In response to Zardari’s plea, one of the directors has submitted a 13 page concise statement in the Supreme Court. The statement highlighted that the accountability courts have charged the PPP leader and presented witnesses before the court without any delay.
NAB further reiterated that the charged leader was already exempted from personal appearance and that the mere suitability of the accused should not be a valid or cogent reason for the transfer of references from Islamabad to Karachi.
NAB lodges the alleged apartment case on Asif Ali Zardari
The country’s top graft buster, has opened another investigation against the PPP supreme leader and former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari concerning his alleged purchase of an apartment in US and sought his response by July 24th.
Read more: Is government going to reopen Swiss cases against Asif Ali Zardari?
The National Accountability Bureau in its notice submitted to Asif Ali Zardari told him clearly that his apartment in Manhattan NewYork has not been declared white in Pakistan and prima facie, and not legal money were sent to purchase this property. Thus, by questioning how he managed to purchase the apartment, the NAB asked the PPP leader to present the detailing of the purchase by 24th July.
In the interim, Zardari approached the Islamabad High Court for his pre-arrest bail in this case. The plea was filed through Farooq H Naek, and Zardari nominated DG Rawalpindi, investigation officer and NAB chairman as direct respondents to the case. Alongside, the plea also has attached Zardari’s medical report from Ziauddin hospital.
Through the plea, the PPP leader appealed that he requires an extension to submit a response to NAB. The reason he presented was his ailing health and the consequent treatment underway.
NAB recovers Rs 33 bln in Zardari’s fake account case: Fawad#APPNews @fawadchaudhry @FawadPTIUpdates @MoIB_Official https://t.co/aIYqNr07R0 pic.twitter.com/TC26nrQxBN
— APP (@appcsocialmedia) July 3, 2021
He appealed the court to grant him a bail until a final decision in the case and to declare the notice sent my NAB as illegal. Additionally, on 3rd July Minister for Information, Fawad Chaudhry highlighted that NAB recovered Rs.33 billion in fake accounts case concerning the former president.
Recovery from fake accounts case
This recovery speaks volumes about the fact as to how the past leaders have exploited their position in looting and robbing the country through corruption. As a result, the economy, particularly of Sindh has suffered drastically with indicators such as poverty, deprivation, loss to education and livelihood plummeting below the mark. Fawad Chaudhry claims that the volume of recovery in the fake accounts case is massive Rs.5000 billion.
Read more: New NAB case probes Asif Zardari’s New York property
Two year progress of NAB over the case proceeding
NAB had acquired the record of Asif Ali Zardari’s New York’s apartment which he purchased in 20th June 2007. The cost of the apartment was $530,000. Former President had transferred the power of attorney to a lady named Mary Ann. NAB is probing into further information from the US regarding the actual ownership of the apartment. This is the progress of NAB over the inquiry which started two years ago.