KARACHI – Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on Wednesday failed to appear before a probe team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Rs 35billion money laundering scam.
Two counsels for the suspects appeared before the FIA State Bank Circle and submitted a reply, stating that the duo will make the appearance after the general elections set to be held on July 25, local media reported.
The lawyers argued that the politicians are busy in running election campaigns and will join the investigations after the polls. Zardari is contesting polls from NA-213, while the PPP has fielded Talpur in NA-207.
The FIA, which is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fake accounts, on Tuesday summoned the siblings.
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.
