Money laundering case: Zardari, Talpur's interim bail extended till Dec 21

KARACHI: A banking court on Monday extended the interim bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, till December 21 in connection to an ongoing money laundering case.

Zardari and Talpur appeared before the court as the interim bail granted to them earlier in the case ended today.

Onmi Group Chairman Anwar Majeed's sons Nimr Majeed and AG Majeed also appeared before the banking court in Karachi.

As the hearing went under way, the investigation officer apprised the court regarding the progress made in the case while Zardari and Talpur's counsel requested for an extension in the interim bail. The court accepted the request and extended their interim bail till December 21.

Earlier during the hearing, Zardari met AG Majeed. The former president's guards surrounded the two and no one else was allowed close to them

Former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Onmi Group Chairman Anwar Majeed and his son Abdul Ghani Majeed are also suspects in the case pertaining to money laundering through fake bank accounts.

The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.

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

Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some 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.