Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur’s interim bail extended
Both the politicians are on a list of 32 people being investigated for money laundering.
Dubai: A banking court in Pakistan extended the interim bail of ex-president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in a money laundering case, today.
The bail was extended till February 6, and the court hearing adjourned to February 14.
Many Twitter users from Pakistan were unhappy that the bail was being further extended.
Tweep @fawwad_raza posted: “Most cunning politician in [the] history of Pakistan. #AsifAliZardari manages to get bail again, along with her sister #FaryalTalpur. #PPP #MoneyLaundering”
Tweep @escobarkhan07 pointed out that the root of the problem was that corruption had been encouraged for too long in the country: “#AsifAliZardari and #FaryalTalpur are corrupt because this democratic system has promoted corruption and allowed them to be corrupt.”
And, @AamirAk12 tweeted: “This is very unfortunate for a political party like PPP who used to be the Federal Party of Pakistan, now its leadership/members of parliament are busy in guarding the wealth and interests of Zardari! Reactions from the party leaders are nothing but the defence of #AsifAliZardari.”
Both Zardari and Talpur are politicians belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and are on a list of 32 people being investigated by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts. The two appeared in court today.
As per earlier media reports, Former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Omnii Group Chairman Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani Majeed are also suspects in the money laundering case through fake bank accounts.
The money laundering scam was revealed when State Bank of Pakistan sent a report of a suspicious transaction to the Federal Investigation Agency in 2015.
The FIA authorities stated that some bank managers and administration opened fake bank accounts at the behest of Omni Group during 2013 and 2015 for six months.
The bank accounts were allegedly used for money laundering of Pakistani Rs35 billion (nearly Dh920 million), according to documents available with investigators.
After receiving the State Bank Report, FIA DIrector Sindh ordered an inquiry which found four accounts being used in suspicious transactions.