The interim bail of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur in a money laundering case was extended on Tuesday. During the hearing attended by Talpur and Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and his three sons, the PPP’s counsel told the banking court in Karachi that Zardari could attend the hearing because he was in Islamabad to cast his vote in the presidential election. Accepting the plea for Zardari’s exemption from appearance in the hearing, the court adjourned the proceedings till September 25. Earlier, Zardari had obtained a protective bail from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the case on August 18. The high court had directed the former president to appear before the trial court by September 3. The case pertains to alleged money laundering of at least Rs35 billion through fake accounts. It was registered in 2015 and it has former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, a close aide of Zardari, among the accused. Published in Daily Times, September 5th 2018.