Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Monday criticised the government for the fallout emanating from India’s withdrawal of an offer by Pakistan to restart a long-stalled dialogue process.
“Such things are bound to happen in the current environment under the current government,” Zardari said when asked about Indian cancelling a planned meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries.
The former head of state also referred to the recent amendments in the fiscal year’s budget as “mini-drama”.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman made the statement outside a banking court hearing a case pertaining to money laundering through fake bank accounts. During Tuesday’s hearing, the banking court was irked over the non-appearance of accused under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for allegedly facilitating illegal transactions through 29 ‘fake’ bank accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited. Zardari, sister Faryal Talpur, Omni Group’s Anwar Majeed, his son, former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai and Summit Bank Senior Vice-President Taha Raza are among the accused.
The defence counsel requested the court to unfreeze Omni Group’s bank accounts citing the impact it had on the group’s employees, however, the judge turned down the plea citing the Supreme Court’s directives against issuing any order in the matter. “Will the banking courts now refer to the SC for every decision?” asked the defence counsel. The defence requested the court to instruct FIA for submission of the final charge sheet, the judge reminded the counsel regarding the apex court’s directives in the case. “But we can provide FIA with a time-frame to submit final charge sheet,” said the judge before adjourning the hearing until October 16.
Speaking to the media, the Omni Group chairman claimed to be “una
ware” of the JIT’s formation to investigate money laundering. “You have only heard one side of the story. You will hear my side in court.”
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