KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur failed to show up before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Karachi office on Wednesday.
They were served summons a day earlier to appear to record their statement in connection with an ongoing investigation into a case involving transfers of billions of rupees from one of 29 alleged fake accounts to 13 companies, including the one linked to the former president and his sister.
The PPP leaders through their lawyer requested the FIA authorities to set a date for their appearance for questioning after elections.
In a statement submitted to the FIA, they stated that they were busy is the party’s election campaign and therefore couldn’t appear. They said they would appear in a first week after the July 25 polls.
On Tuesday, FIA officials pasted notices at the entrance of Bilawal House and Ms Talpur’s house in Karachi’s DHA, asking the PPP leaders to appear before an investigation team at 10:00am today to record their statement.
The notices, according to the officials, were pasted outside their houses after their staff refused to receive them.
It is important to note here that the apex court on Monday issued directives for placing the names of Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal on the Exit Control List (ECL). It has also summoned them on July 12.
PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday evening said his party’s co-chairman had no connection with the Rs35billion money laundering case.
Addressing a press conference alongside party leaders Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar, Mr. Ahsan said the FIA notice pasted outside Bilawal House only demands explanation about a Rs15million cheque credited into Asif Ali Zardari group’s account not money laundering as reported by a section of media.
“We also reject this allegation (about the Rs15million cheque) and will defend it in the court but the impression being given to public about some Rs35billion scam is entirely wrong as the matter upon which Zardari and Faryal Talpur’s names were put on ECL involves only Rs15million, an allegation (PPP co-chairman’s counsel) Farooq Naik will refute at any suitable platform,” he added.
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