Daily Times

The banking court, here on Wednesday, adjourned the hearing in a money laundering case against the former president, Asif Ali Zardari, and others till March 5.

According to information available with media sources, the case was adjourned as the relevant judge was on leave.

The court had scheduled to hear a petition of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) about the transfer of the case to Rawalpindi.

The hearing with reference to bail petitions of the two accused, Omni Group owners Anwar Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed, was also adjourned. Lawyers representing Faryal Talpur and Anwar Majeed were present in the court to plead the case of their clients.

The NAB officials apprised the court that the money laundering case against Zardari and others had been transferred to Rawalpindi, after approval from the watchdog body’s chairman. They also submitted a letter signed by the chairman in the court.

NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal had, under clause 16-A of the NAB ordinance, ordered the case to be transferred to Rawalpindi, on special directives from the apex court. Its officials also pleaded the court to not hear bail petitions because of this transfer.

Money laundering case

The anti-graft agency is investigating former president, Asif Ali Zardari; his sister, Faryal Talpur, and others on charges of laundering over Rs 35 billion through fake bank accounts. Zardari’s close aides Hussain Lawai and Anwar Majeed were also arrested in connection with these charges.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report submitted to the Supreme Court identified as many as 29 fake accounts, which were being used to make the said transactions.

Published in Daily Times, February 21^st 2019.