NAB prepares response against Zardari’s bail petition

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has prepared its response against fake bank accounts and money laundering case against former president Asif Ali Zardari.

According to sources, the list of cases and inquiries has been submitted by the accountability watchdog in the Islamabad High Court.

The accountability watchdog further said investigation against Zardari in Nooriabad Power Plant Project, Thatta and Dadu Sugar Mills is under way, while four references have already been submitted against the former president in the accountability court.

NAB sources further said, 22 inquiries in the fake bank accounts case are under way against Zardari, while he has obtained bail in five cases.

The case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating more than 30 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July 2018 in connection with the probe.

The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed a close aide and Omni Group chairman and his son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested by FIA in August 2018.

Several ‘benami’ accounts at multiple private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.

The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.