A banking court on Monday extended the interim bail of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur till January 23 in a case pertaining to money laundering of billions through fake bank accounts. The PPP top leadership appeared before the court as the interim bail granted to them ended. During the hearing, the counsels of the suspects requested the court to order the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit a final charge-sheet. However, the judge said the Supreme Court has halted proceedings by the banking court. “We cannot proceed without the top court’s permission.” The court then extended Zardari and Talpur’s interim pre-arrest bails and adjourned the hearing of the case till January 23. The FIA is investigating 32 people, including Zardari and Talpur, in relation to alleged money laundering from fictitious accounts. Published in Daily Times, January 8th 2019.