JIT requests SC to freeze Zardari, Omni group assets

KARACHI: The joint investigation team (JIT) probing the fake accounts case requested the Supreme Court on Saturday to freeze all the assets held by Zardari group, Omni group, former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, ARY News reported.

These assets include residential houses such as Bilawal House in Karachi and Lahore apart from Zardari House in Islamabad.

The JIT submitted recommendations to freeze all the aforementioned properties as well as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman’s assets in New York and Dubai, all the urban and agricultural lands of Taplur and Zardari apart from Omni groups’ sugar mills, agricultural and energy companies and also luxury cars owned by them.

“The prima facie evidence brought to the record during the JIT investigation clearly indicates that Zardari and Omni Groups which started with a paid up capital of Rs600 (1981) and Rs6000 (2001) respectively amassed assets through misappropriation of loans, government funds, kickbacks and proceeds of crime. The available evidence suggests that these groups have a history of laundering their illegal proceeds abroad through Hundi/ various channels of Hawala,” read the request submitted in the apex court.  “The Supreme Court of Pakistan is requested to freeze the assets of Zardari and Omni Groups held through various subsidiary and front companies and assets held in the name of their directors, pending the final adjudication by the accountability courts: lest this ‘money laundering cartel’, shifts their assets abroad.”