ISLAMABAD – Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur have been summoned by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in an ongoing probe regarding money laundering to the tune of Rs 35 billion.
The Sindh stalwarts have been summoned on Wednesday, a day before they are directed to appear before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the same case.
Earlier, the apex court ordered the Ministry of Interior to place the names of suspects involved in the fake account case on the no-fly list, barring their offshore visits.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case related to money laundering on Monday.
The apex court directed that the names of the people mentioned in a list compiled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), should be put on the Exit Control List (ECL).
During the hearing, the FIA informed the court that there are seven account holders and 13 beneficiaries. The account holders include Tariq Sultan, Irum Aqeel, Mohammad Ashraf, Iqbal Arain, Mohammad Umair, Adnan Javed and Qasim Ali.
According to the FIA’s list, the beneficiaries of the account are former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister, Faryal Talpur, Nasir Abdullah, Omni Polymer Packages, Pak Ethanol Private Limited, Ansari Sugar Mills, Chimber Sugar Mills, Agro Farm Thatta, Parthenon Private Limited, A1 International, Lucky International, Logistic Trading, Royal International and Umair Associate.
The court also summoned chief executive officers of Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and UBL as well as officials of the State Bank of Pakistan in the next hearing set to be held on coming Thursday. The court also directed State Bank of Pakistan to furnish necessary information to FIA.
On July 5, the top court took suo motu notice of slow inquiry into the fake bank accounts case.
