Zardari, Talpur's bail in money laundering case extended till March 5

KARACHI: A banking court of Karachi on Thursday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and nine other suspects in a money laundering case till March 5.

Both the siblings and nine other suspects, including former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, Omni Group Chairman Anwar Majeed, his son Abdul Ghani Majeed and banker Taha Raza, appeared before the court here as the interim pre-arrest bail granted to them in the money laundering case has ended today.

While, hearing for bail petitions of Anwer and AG Majeed has been postponed till February 20.

Read More: Zardari pleads SC for early hearing of fake accounts case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutor told the banking court that there was no justification to hear the suspects’ bail pleas.

After hearing the arguments, the court accepted request of Farooq H Naek, the counsel of Zardari and Talpur,  for an extension in his clients’ interim pre-arrest bail.

Money laundering case

Zardari and Talpur are facing a probe into the money laundering scam involving over Rs35 billion laundered through fake bank accounts. Zardari’s close aides Hussain Lawai and Anwar Majeed are also being investigated in the scandal. They both are in custody.

A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe into the mega money laundering scam submitted its report in the Supreme Court.

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.