FIA summons Zardari, Faryal Talpur in money laundering case

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake bank accounts and money laundering case.

The former president and his sister are accused in the Rs35 billion money laundering case which includes twenty other individuals including an eminent banker.

Both were summoned earlier but had sought more time to appear due to general elections. However, they have been summoned to appear at the agency’s offices in Islamabad on Saturday.

Earlier, the representatives from PPP leader Farooq H. Naek’s law firm had appeared and requesed more time to appear personally and submit a reply.. The counsel stated that the case dates back to 2014 while both were called for investigation just two weeks before the general elections.

Faryal Talpur had also excused herself from appearance stating that she was the president of the party’s women wing and was also contesting election in Larkana. Therefore, it was rather difficult to submit a reply during the election campaign.

She had sought more time and said that a reply will be submitted by July 30 and she will fully cooperate with any further investigation.

FIA had declared Zardari and Faryal Talpur as absconders in an interim application submitted to a district magistrate on July 21 in Karachi. Both were placed on the 19th and 20th position on the list of individuals nominated in the case.

The Supreme Court restrained the FIA from pursuing inquiry against Zardari and his sister till the general elections, while their names were also removed from the Exit Control List.