Former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur have been declared as absconders in relation to the money laundering case by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar headed a two-member bench, which had taken suo motu notice into the FIA’s probe of a Rs35 billion money-laundering scam - during the hearing of which reports emerged of the two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders being put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Both Zardari and Talpur were declared absconders in the case which also nominates others including Zardari’s close aide and Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) Chairman Hussain Lawai. Anwar Majeed and his son were also among the 20 people, who were declared FIA absconders in the money laundering case.

The PPP co-chairman had earlier denied involvement in the scam. Earlier this month, Zardari said that he would face the bogus cases like he did in the past, adding that he was sent a notice of Rs150 million rather than the propagated Rs35 billion.

He also said that it was the time for elections, not for accountability, and that his party would not boycott the forthcoming polls. He added that accountability should take place either before or after election season. “We won’t give anyone opportunity by boycotting the election,” he added. Rejecting the allegations against him, the PPP leader said he has faced cases before and will do so again.