Money-laundering, Park Lane cases: SHC grants protective bails to Zardari, Faryal

Sindh High Court (SHC) Tuesday granted protective bails to Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur in connection with the money-laundering and Park Lane Estates cases after both were summoned to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in these cases.
SHC however turned down the plea of the duo to stay the transfer the money-laundering case to Accountability Court (AC) Islamabad when Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur moved SHC for seeking protective bails in view of possibility of their arrest while appearing before the NAB in connection with money-laundering case on Wednesday (today).
Two-member bench of SHC headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh and comprised of Justice Omar Sail approved the protective bail of Asif Ali Zardari in two cases, ie, money-laundering and Park Lane Estates against surety bond Rs1 million each and of Ms Talpur against Rs.1 million surety bond in money laundering case.
Bench approved the protective bails of duo for ten days by ordering them to appear before the trial court, ie, Accountability Court Islamabad.
Asif Ali Zardari and Talpur turned up in person to deposit the surety bonds for protective bails after they left the court's premises in noon after securing the protective bails.
SHC issued notices to Director General (NAB) Karachi and NAB Prosecutor and directed them to furnish their replies on March 06, 2019.
Court, however rejected the request of Farooq H. Naek to direct NAB to submit all the record of money-laundering case in the court. On the ruling of banking court, the relevant record of money-laundering case has been transferred to AC Islamabad.
Earlier in the day, Farooq H Naek, counsel for Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur filed the petitions for the bail in SHC. Asif Zardari sought one bail in money-laundering case for which he is appearing before NAB and the other one related to call-up notice issued in relation to investigations about M/s Park Lanes Limited & M/s Parthenon Limited. Faryal Talpur sought the bail in money laundering case for his appearance before NAB.
When the court took up the hearing, Farooq H Naek submitted before the court this clients are willing to appear before NAB, however both are feared to be arrested while appearing before the anti-graft watchdog. He prayed the court to approved the protective bails of Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur. Farooq H. Naek also requested the court to set-aside call-up notice of NAB in Park Lanes Limited and Parathenon case on the ground that it was a business deal between two private concerns, in which NAB has no power to investigate.
On transfer of money laundering case, Naek contended that Supreme Court didn't give any directions for transfer of this case from Karachi to Islamabad, which NAB made the basis under Section 16-A under NAB laws. He also contested the authority of NAB to investigate money-laundering case because this case didn't involve corruption of public money and said that even FIR registered for this case didn't mention that NAB would probe this matter.
Naek replied that Supreme Court didn't order for transfer of the case in paragraph 300 of its judgment in money-laundering case when bench head inquired about the stance of counsel on SC's verdict. "Why don't you file a review petition in apex court if you though that something wrong is being done against your client," Chief Justice remarked.