Islamabad (July 10, 2018): The Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and a few others in a case related to Rs35 billion money laundering scam.
In a suo-motu notice the court ordered the duo to appear before it on July 12, it has also directed Sindh Inspector General Amjad Javid Saleemi to ensure their presence in the court.
Supreme Court has also ordered to place the names of former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and others in the Exit Control List (ECL).
Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Tariq Sultan, Erum Aqeel, Muhammad Ashraf and Muhammad Iqbal Arain are among those who have been issued notices to appear before the top court on the given date.
The top court also directed the Sindh inspector general of police to ensure that all persons that have been summoned appear before the court.
The seven account holders are Tariq Sultan, Erum Aqeel, Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Iqbal Arain, Muhammad Umair, Adnan Javed and Qasim Ali.
The court has also summoned CEOs/President of United Bank, Summit Bank and Sindh Bank and instructed to freeze Rs7 billion of Summit bank reserved at the State Bank of Pakistan.
The development comes few days after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) detained Central Depository Company (CDC) chairman and Summit Bank vice chairman Hussain Lawai, a close aide of the former president.
Lawai and his associates are accused of opening 29 fake accounts in the Summit Bank and United Bank of Pakistan Limited.
According to the FIA, 29 accounts were opened in the name of seven people, including a woman. The agency said that 18 to 19 of the ‘fake’ accounts were opened in the Summit Bank alone.
FIA sources said that these accounts were used for money laundering with the accounts mainly being operated by a businessman, Anwar Majeed who is said to be very close to Zardari and his business partner.
On Saturday, the FIA had obtained the remand of the Central Depository Company (CDC) chairman, after registering a case against him and others for using a fake account to launder Rs35 billion ($288 million).
According to a case registered by FIA’s Banking Circle Karachi, the former president and leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari, and his sister, Faryal Talpur, are among 13 people who benefited from the arrangement.
Earlier, Secretary Interior on Monday clarified that no directives have been issued from barring them from flying abroad.
Secretary interior has said that till now they have not received such directives from the apex court, will see if such directives would be received.
Related News:
