PTI government focused on politics of revenge: Zardari
PKONWEB Report – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is said to have established the role of former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) top leader Asif Ali Zardari in multi-billion rupee money laundering through fictitious bank accounts.
The bureau submitted details on Tuesday of its ongoing investigation to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the capital.
The development was revealed in the report which has also been sent to Zardari’s defense team.
The anti-graft watchdog is conducting investigations in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the fake accounts case. The apex court had forwarded the joint investigation team (JIT) report to NAB with directions to investigate and file references.
Investigators have so far identified 29 accounts which received payments, totaling at least Rs35 billion.
PPP lawmaker Faryal Talpur, Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed and his sons, and former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairperson Hussain Lawai are among others being investigated in the case.
In the report, NAB has listed down at least eight cases where Zardari’s link had been established. According to the report, at least 22 inquiries and three investigations are underway while three references have been filed in the fake accounts case.
According to the report, the JIT identified 11,500 bank accounts and 924 account holders at the start of their investigation.
Its experts generated 59 Suspected Transaction Reports (STR) and 24,500 Cash Transaction Reports.
Zardari on Tuesday reiterated his stance that the incumbent government is pursuing an agenda of political revenge, Express News reported.
The bureau, in its report, has made it clear that the number of inquiries and investigation may vary as the probe is on-going.
NAB, an independent organ of the State is responsible for probing and acting on white collar crimes in the country.
Last week, its Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said that despite the challenges and pressures he is facing he will not back off from his mission of holding the corrupt accountable.
According to a report, Justice (r) Iqbal was pressurized to drop some references but the anti-graft watchdog’s head expressed his resolve and said he is not afraid of anyone except God. He said that he does not care about the pressure and will continue performing his duties with utmost honesty.
When the news outlet tried to contact the NAB chairman, he refused to comment on the matter or verify the authenticity of the reports.
