Another accuse offers to become approver in reference against Zardari, Talpur

ISLAMABAD: A third accused, in mega money laundering and fake accounts reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and others, Monday requested the accountability court to allow him to become approver.

As Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik heard the case. The accused Sher Muhammad appeared and requested the judge to record his statement as prosecution witness.

At this, the prosecutor of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the court that the accused had submitted an application to the NAB chairman and the department was reviewing the request.

Earlier, two women accused Kiran and Noreen had already submitted applications to become approvers in above reference.

Zardari and Talpur appeared before an accountability court amid foolproof security arrangements around the judicial complex.

During hearing, the court also directed both brother and sister to submit surety bonds worth Rs2 million each to ensure their attendances on next dates of hearings.

The judge asked NAB whether it had any objection over submission of surety bonds by the accused persons.

The NAB prosecutor pleaded that the accused persons had obtained pre-arrest bail from Islamabad High Court.

He said the accused were appearing before the court regularly and it was court’s privilege to accept surety bonds or not.

The NAB investigation officer also submitted paper book of the case to the court.

Zardari’s counsel Farook H Naik argued that his client had obtained pre-arrest bail before NAB filed reference against them.

To a query regarding the production of four other accused who were in Karachi jail, the NAB prosecutor said no reply yet received from Sindh chief secretary province in this regard.