Zardari, Talpur record statements in money laundering case

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur have appeared before Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday to record statements in money laundering case against them.

Both of them arrived at the agency’s Islamabad zonal office, accompanied by several PPP leaders including Senator Sherry Rehman, lawyer Farooq H Naek, Naveed Qamar, Aitzaz Ahsan, Qamar Zaman Qaira and Khursheed Shah, local media reported.

During the hearing today they recorded their statements and filled out a questionnaire prepared by the FIA.

While talking to the media, Zardari stated that this case is fake and it was filed against him during the last government's tenure.

On Saturday, the FIA had summoned the former president and his sister for the fourth time and asked them to appear at the agency’s headquarters in Islamabad today.

A local banking court in Karachi had extended the interim bail of Zardari and Talpur in money laundering case till September 4. On August 18, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved the former president’s petition for protective bail in the case.

The brother sister-duo has been accused of sending Rs 35 billion abroad through fake accounts. Their names have also been placed in the Exit Control List (ECL).

Reportedly, from 2013- 2015 atleast 29 fake accounts were opened at some private banks where transactions worth billions of rupees were made. A seven-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) led by FIA Additional Director General Najaf Mirza is carrying out the investigation.