Court extends Zardari, Talpur's bail in money laundering case

A banking court on Tuesday extended till December 10 the interim bail granted earlier to former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, in a money laundering case.

The Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman and his sister appeared before a baking court in Karachi today in connection to a case pertaining to money laundering of billions through fictitious bank accounts.

After a brief briefing, the judge granted extension to the PPP leaders and adjourned the hearing till December 10.

The money laundering case is also being probed by a joint investigation team formed by the Supreme Court.

The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur. Zardari’s close aide Hussain Lawai was arrested in July in connection with the probe.

The former president’s other close aide and Omni Group chairman Anwar Majeed and his son, Abdul Ghani, were also arrested by FIA in August. Majeed’s three other sons have been granted interim bail.

Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts at some private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, according to sources.

The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes.

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