Zardari, Talpur get protective bail for ten days

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday granted protective bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in a case pertaining to the laundering of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts, ARY News reported.

A division bench of the high court approved protective bail for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders for ten days against a surety of Rs1 million each.

Meanwhile, the bench also approved bail for Zardari in another case related to the Park Lane Estate and directed him to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in pursuance of its call-up notice on March 20.

The PPP co-chairman, his sister Faryal Talpur as well as their lawyer Farooq H Naek appeared in the court.

NAB had earlier on March 16 summoned Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to appear on March 20 for questioning in connection with an inquiry against them in the wake of allegations that Park Lane Estate Company (PvT) Ltd was behind the illegal transfer of forest land to the firm in collusion with government officials.

According to a NAB spokesperson, Zardari and Bilwal have a stake of 25 percent in Park Lane Estate Company – a Karachi based real estate firm.

Read Also: NAB issued notice on petitions against money laundering case transfer

A banking court in Karachi had last week transferred the money laundering case against the former president, his sister and others to Rawalpindi on a request by NAB.

The court also cancelled the interim bail of the 19 suspects, including the PPP leaders in the case.  The court directed the authorities to return surety amount to the suspects.