'Mini-drama, not mini-budget presented,' says Zardari

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur showed up before a banking court in Karachi as it resumed hearing of the money laundering case against them and others on Tuesday.

The court repeated non-bailable warrants for the arrest of absconding accused and adjourned the hearing of the case till October 16.

The PPP leaders left the court premises shortly after adjournment of the case.

When reporters asked the former head of state to comment on the strained ties between Pakistan and India as well as recent developments thereof, he said: “This is bound to happen in the environment like this or under the governments like these.”

To another question about the PTI government’s first, mini-budget, he said, “Mini-drama, not mini-budget was presented.”

Meanwhile, the FIA informed the court that five absconders couldn’t be nabbed since they are out of the country and that measures are being taken to bring them to book.

A lawyer, who represented the accused, requested the court to direct the FIA to submit a final charge-sheet of the case.

At this, the judge said the matter is now pending in the Supreme Court and that the FIA could be asked to give time frame for the submission of the charge-sheet.