NAB arrests Asif Ali Zardari in fake bank accounts case

ISLAMABAD - A team of National Accountability Bureau arrested former president Asif Ali Zardari on Monday, hours after the Islamabad High Court dismissed the bail pleas moved by PPP leader and his sister Faryal Talpur.

The court permitted the National Accountability Bureau to arrest the duo as it announced a verdict reserved earlier in the fake bank accounts/ money laundering case, however, the anti-graft body did not arrest Faryal Talpur.

Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani announced the verdict after the accused left the court premises; Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman was on bail from as early as March 28.

آصف علی زرداری کی گرفتاری کے مناظر ۔ ۔ pic.twitter.com/rsPUxapVYE

— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) June 10, 2019

The court had extended his interim bail for five times, however, a plea in this regard was rejected by a two-member bench today.

The fake bank account case relates to the opening of over two dozen accounts in private banks through which money was allegedly laundered; Asif Zardari's friends including Anwar Majeed, Hussain Lawai and others are already behind bars in the case.

A report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted in the Supreme Court detailed that over Rs100b were laundered through the said bank accounts though some estimates say the amount comes out to be around Rs 35b.

NAB Team Arrives at Zardari House

A team of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrived at the Zardari House in Islamabad to arrest the former president.

Tight security arrangements were made outside the residence before arresting the lawmaker.

The former president was taken to the NAB office in Rawalpindi and would be produced before an accountability court on Tuesday to seek his remand.

NAB has also informed Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaiser about the developments, however, PPP lawmakers are demanding the Speaker to issue production orders for Asif Ali Zardari.

Production Orders

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif demanded the issuance of production orders for Asif Ali Zardari and Khawaja Saad Rafique during his speech on the floor of the House.

Moreover, in his informal interaction with newsmen, the PML-N leader expressed that the former president turned up before NAB team regularly.