ISLAMABAD – The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) tasked to probe the fake accounts set up for alleged money laundering has completed its investigations, compiling a final report in this regard.
The contents of the report have not been made public, however, sources claim that the report comprises some 7500 pages and is ‘damaging’ for Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.
The apex court had formed a JIT in September to probe the money laundering case involving Rs35 billion funneled through fake bank accounts at three local banks; according to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the amount exceeds Rs 100 billion.
Sources privy to the developments reveal that the JIT interrogated 97 people, including Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Anwar Majeed, his son and former Summit Bank president, Hussain Lawai.
During the course of investigations, the JIT had also summoned PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari twice but he didn’t appear before the investigators and instead submitted his reply to the JIT through his lawyers.
The JIT also added the statements of the approvers in its report and sources claim that as many as 30 bankers have been named in the report. The team also utilized Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in its widespread probe.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/govt-mulls-filing-disqualification-reference-against-asif-zardari/
Veteran journalist Hamid Mir disclosed in a TV show that the JIT report also targeted Bilawal Bhutto besides Asif Ali Zardari.
The apex court would resume hearing into the case on December 24th – a day set for the accountability court in Islamabad to announce the verdict on two graft references filed against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Investigations so far have revealed that several ‘benami’ accounts were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 at some private banks from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made in a fictitious manner.
The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.
