NAB decides to shift mega money laundering scandal to Islamabad

KARACHI: In a major development into Sindh’s mega money laundering scandal, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to shift the under trial case from Karachi’s banking court to Islamabad, ARY News reported on Monday.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, his sister, Faryal Talpur, Zardari’s close aides Hussain Lawai and Anwar Majeed are also being investigated in the scandal of alleged money laundering of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts.

A team of Sindh’s anti-graft watchdog body has filed a plea in the banking court and sought transfer of the case to the federal capital.

“The top court had directed to shift the mega money laundering scam to Islamabad,” the NAB’s plea reads.

Chairman and Prosecutor General NAB are mulling over to transfer the case to Islamabad, this plea is to inform the court about the development, the plea says.

On January 28, Asif Zardari and his sister had filed review petition against the Supreme Court decision in the fake bank accounts case.

According to the petition, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) failed to submit the final challan in the court and as it couldn’t find any evidence in the case.

JIT report

The JIT accused Mr Zardari of mis-declaring his assets in his nomination papers submitted in the 2018 general elections and recommended filing of references against Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The JIT members revealed that 29 fake bank accounts had been identified, which were used for money laundering. They said Rs1.2 billion had been transferred to Ms Talpur from JV Opal account and she had admitted it during her appearance before the team.

The JIT claimed the money was used to purchase properties in Tando Allhyar and Lahore.

It said that Omni Group had obtained Rs53.4 billion loans by setting up different companies since a company could not secure a loan exceeding Rs4 billion under the banking laws. Expenses of Zardari’s house were also paid through these companies, it said and added Rs2.7 million payment for sacrificial goats and some amount for pet dogs’ food had also been made by Omni Group.