Daily Times

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari was issued another notice on Saturday to appear at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) old headquarters in Rawalpindi on May 29 for investigation into his alleged role in overvaluation of power projects and illegal awards of contracts.

A combined investigation team (CIT) of the anti-graft watchdog will record his statement in both the inquiries.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has already been issued a notice to appear before the investigation team on the same day (May 29). On May 23, Zardari had excused himself from appearing before the NAB Rawalpindi on the pretext of busy schedule. The former president had written a letter to the NAB, stating that he could not appear due to busy schedule, and asking the bureau to manage another date for him. The bureau had summoned him in an inquiry pertaining to illegal allotment of land by Sindh government and misuse of powers.

Sources, however, had said Zardari decided not to appear before the NAB on the advice of his legal team, adding that he fled to Karachi despite NAB having summoned him to appear on May 23.

On May 15, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had granted bails to Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in all cases against them. Earlier on May 9, the NAB had summoned Zardari to record his statement in the same case. However, he excused himself from appearing before the combined investigation team (CIT) of the NAB Rawalpindi, seeking another date on the ground that he was scheduled to appear before the accountability court on the same date.

The NAB has already filed references in cases against him related to money laundering through fake bank accounts, Pink Residency and illegal award of water supply schemes.

On April 13, Zardari had submitted his written response to NAB Rawalpindi on 54 questions in connection with three cases against him, including Park Lane Estate, Pink Residency and money laundering through fake accounts.

Earlier, the case was being heard in a banking court in Karachi but had been shifted to an accountability court in Islamabad upon an appeal by the NAB.

The FIA is investigating 32 people, including Zardari and Talpur, in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July last year in connection with the probe. The former president’s close aide and Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani were arrested by FIA in August 2018.

Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to reports. The amount, according to FIA, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.