Daily Times

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday admitted for hearing bail petitions of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in fake bank accounts abd Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited cases. A two-member bench of the court is scheduled to preside over the hearing of the bail applications filed by Farooq H Naek on behalf of both Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders on Wednesday (today). The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Accountability Court No 2 have been made respondents in the petitions.

Earlier in the day, Zardari filed a bail plea on medical grounds whereas Talpur sought bail from the same court while pleading that she is the mother of a differently-abled child, and therefore she needs to take care of that child.

Zardari maintained that he is suffering from heart ailment and has had three stents placed in his body. He said he also suffers from diabetes which means that he has to constantly monitor his blood sugar levels. The PPP supremo’s medical reports were also submitted to the court along with the application. Zardari is under detention on charges of money laundering and presently undergoing treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. He was arrested by NAB after the cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the IHC in the fake bank accounts case on June 10. Zardari, Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited. NAB has alleged that the national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs 3.77 billion because of the irregularities.