The Supreme Court has directed the Interior Ministry to place the names of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur on the Exit Control List (ECL), media reports quoted Attorney General (AG) Khalid Javed as saying on Monday.
The directives were issued by the apex court in connection with an ongoing suo motu case pertaining to investigations into fake accounts and fictitious transactions worth billions conducted through several mainstream banks.
Earlier, the SC had ordered placement of three private banks’ chiefs – allegedly involved in suspicious transactions to the tune to Rs 35 billion – on the no-fly list.
Also it was reported that the apex court had issued notices to alleged beneficiaries, including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur among others, to appear before the court on July 12.
However, the attorney general confirmed that the apex court had ordered the Interior Ministry to place the names of all beneficiaries and accused persons identified in the case on the ECL.
But the interior secretary on Monday said that no directive barring Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur from flying abroad had been issued.
“Till now we have not received any such directive from the apex court, will see if such directives will be received,” the secretary said.
An emergency meeting of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was also called in Lahore for a discussion on the ongoing developments.
At an earlier hearing on Sunday, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Bashir Memon told a three-member bench, headed by the top judge, that the investigation into the matter was launched on an intelligence tip in 2010.
“Out of the 29 accounts identified by the authority, 16 existed in Summit Bank, eight in Sindh Bank and five in UBL, while transactions worth Rs 35 billion were recorded among seven people.”
Upon Justice Nisar’s inquiry, Memon revealed ownership of various accounts. Elaborating bank transfers, he said that Rs 70 million were transferred to Ansari Sugar Mill, Rs 5 million to Omni, Rs 15 million to Pak Ethanol, Rs 200 million to Chamber Sugar Mill, Rs 5.7 million to Agro Firm and Rs 15 million to Zardari Group Pvt Ltd through alleged fake bank accounts.
When the top judge asked why the suspect behind money laundering of over Rs 35 billion had not been summoned, Memon replied that FIA had sent notices to all suspects. He said that the agency had arrested Hussain Lawai – vice-chairman of Summit Bank and a close aide of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.
The court had also directed the Sindh Police inspector general to ensure presence of all those summoned for the hearing on the given date. It had also ordered the State Bank of Pakistan to furnish necessary information to the FIA.
Published in Daily Times, July 10th 2018.
