FIA arrests Zardari's close aide Anwar Majeed in money laundering case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested on Wednesday a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari and Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed in a case related to money laundering through fake accounts.

Majeed was taken into custody outside the Supreme Court (SC), where he and his family appeared after being summoned by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar. During the hearing, the top court ordered to place the names of the Majeed family on Exit Control List.

The court was informed that the names were already placed on the no-fly list. The CJP added that he had no objections if the FIA wanted to take the Majeed family into custody, local media reported. The CJP then adjourned the hearing and summoned the Majeed family in the next hearing.

On August 12, Majeed had said that he has distanced himself from the Omni Group due to his poor health. He said he was no longer fulfilling his responsibilities at the group.

FIA summons Zardari, sister Talpur in Rs35 billion money laundering case

In July, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) Chairman Hussain Lawai, another close aide to Zardari, was taken into custody by the FIA, in the same case. He was accused of operating more than two dozen nameless (benami) accounts to launder billions of rupees abroad.

Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and others have been accused of being involved in the a case of Rs35 billion money laundering through fake accounts. The duo has been declared absconders in the case.