Zardari secures protective bail in fake accounts case
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Former president Asif Ali Zardari was on Saturday granted two weeks' protective bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a day after a banking court had issued arrest warrants against his name.
The PPP co-chairman secured bail in a Rs4.14 billion money laundering case by depositing surety bonds worth Rs500,000. His plea, filed earlier today, was heard by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.
During the hearing, Zardari's lawyer, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, said his client wished to appear before the banking court and cooperate with the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) investigation, but feared arrest.
Zardari was accompanied by his daughter, Asifa Bhutto, and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman.
The money laundering case had initially been registered against former Pakistan Stock Exchange chairman Hussain Lawai, who is widely believed to be a close aide to Zardari, and other bankers in connection with an ongoing probe into a massive money laundering scam.
Lawai and other bankers stand accused of facilitating the opening of 29 ‘fake’ accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited, where “beneficiaries of the Sindh government” had deposited Rs35bnm, which were subsequently transferred to different accounts.
In the interim charge sheet filed on July 21, Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur’s names had appeared in the list of absconding accused persons along with their addresses.
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On DawnNews
Comments (37) Closed
Aug 18, 2018 03:35pm
Bail on surety bond of Rs500,000 against a case of Rs 4.14 billion for Mr Zardari which means 0.012% of the case amount.
Justice is being served really.
What about the Ayyan Ali's $0.5 million money smuggling case, which was only tip of the iceberg, involving similar politicians, where the custom officer who arrested was murdered as well?
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Aug 18, 2018 03:36pm
Squeeze well all the front and cover men like Lawai and get to the roots of the reality for further action.
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Aug 18, 2018 03:43pm
Accumulating wealth by any means is never a good idea. As they say, 'there is no limit to greed' and 'you can't take it with you'. Thus for all those who have amassed wealth by illegally, it is time to come clean. It is better to apologize to the people and return the money.
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Aug 18, 2018 03:56pm
Right from Surrey Palace Case, Swiss Bank Account Cases, And now Fake Accounts Case in Pakistan. Zardari is lucky to have circumstantial benefits, sometimes NRO is there to shield him, yet another times he got immunity of being President, and his faithful colleague Yousuf Raza Gillani, come what may did not comply to SC directions and never wrote letter to Swiss Authorities unless time barred, and he lost his premiership. The COD yet another benefits enjoyed by both sides, and now a distinguished lawyer Ch Aitezaz Ahsan at his disposal to defend him from Fake Account Cases . Let’s see for how long the circumstantial benefits keep supporting the respondents.
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Aug 18, 2018 03:59pm
ECP is very generous in applying the criteria of Sadiq & Amin...
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Aug 18, 2018 04:22pm
Why do these rich and powerful get protection from the court so easily?
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Aug 18, 2018 04:37pm
This time the country means tough measures against any financial misuse.
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Aug 18, 2018 04:45pm
Zardari can return billions. quick justice is the name of the game. Pakistani law can drag for years. that is how they get away.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:00pm
The nation is watching, the Courts should not only be fair but appear to be fair. Everybody should be treated equally before the law. Without solid grounds, there should not be disparity in the decisions of the courts or any other judicial institution. Perhaps, Nawaz Sharif,also deserves some temporary respite.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:00pm
Rs4.14 billion money laundering case and surety bonds worth Rs500,000?
The disparity between the severity of the crime and the bail amount is very disconcerting. What is there as an incentive for the suspect to show up for trial with a miniscule bail amount? With 4.14 billion rupees at stake, would anyone stick around to collect the Rs 500,000??
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Aug 18, 2018 05:03pm
The smiles tell it all how all this is a hoax
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Aug 18, 2018 05:05pm
He will be off the hook soon. Only faces changed game remains the same.
We don’t need naya Pakistan. Need ASLI Pakistan.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:13pm
Wasn’t it mentioned as Non Bailable Arrest Warrant, and Bail issued for a Peanut amount.
Preview of things to come,
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Aug 18, 2018 05:14pm
Interesting he was walking with a limo and aided. He's already prepared for a medical drama. Watch the space!
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Aug 18, 2018 05:25pm
@Ali Vazir excellent ibservations.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:27pm
@Tabdeli Agae they have no genes to apologize, they think it is their right to embezzle and steal from Pakistan.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:31pm
Bail???? What if everyone loot country like this Mr Zardari and get bail even court proceedings? Where we are heading ?
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Aug 18, 2018 05:32pm
@Ali Vazir make him surrender all travel documents from all countries to the court, put his name on the ECL, and deposit 10 percent of corruption amount, in addition to wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, only then grant him bail, not the joke of Rs. 500K, please.
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Aug 18, 2018 05:36pm
We are still living in old Pakistan, era of new Pakistan has not started yet. I hope khan will fulfil his promise by sending all those who has looted our country
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Aug 18, 2018 06:06pm
His smile is that of a guilty person!!!
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Aug 18, 2018 06:34pm
Noose is getting tighter.Hopefully this time they get this tefelon don.
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Aug 18, 2018 06:35pm
@Suleman......Because....As you said...They are Rich and Powerful.
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Aug 18, 2018 06:36pm
@Ali Vazir
means no hope in naya pakistan
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Aug 18, 2018 08:10pm
Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan is a respectable person but he is playing a very dirty role to protect the enemy of the nation who has plundrered the national wealth.
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Aug 18, 2018 08:31pm
Hope.. you will be soon behind the bars Mr. Zardari
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Aug 18, 2018 09:07pm
it’s time for Pak money to return home!
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Aug 18, 2018 09:09pm
@Suleman
Mr. Suleman,
Unfortunately, there is still double standard in
Pakistan.
The sharifs, Abbasis, etc., are behind the bars
the Zardaris, Bhuttos, Talpurs, etc are wandering
here and there.
Justice must prevail otherwise there will be no
progress, prosperity and development for the
country.
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Aug 18, 2018 09:12pm
@Tabdeli Agae
Not many who has wealth accumulated over the years will agree with you. Bail or bond is not a deterring aspect, to face the music in a court of law is.
Either face the music in a court of law or go and live somewhere else. A fair choice. The real guarantee is the unmoveable assets. Don't undermine the law lords.
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Aug 18, 2018 09:12pm
@Magnanimous approach
Mr. Magnanimous approach,
Is Mr. Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan an honest
person?
He bows his head like others before Mr. Bilawal
Zardari without any shame.
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Aug 18, 2018 10:43pm
Zardari is big drama who become sick once around courts who looted from all associations of Karachi
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Aug 18, 2018 11:19pm
Zardari's days are numbered, he has nowhere to go but jail, his room in jail is currently being prepared next to Nawaz.
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Aug 18, 2018 11:46pm
As long as he cooperates with the powers that control Pakistan, and doesn’t cause trouble to the new government, he should be fine.
Naya Pakistan Mubarak
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Aug 19, 2018 12:16am
Rs5 trillion is bail. Rs500,000 is a joke. Protective bail is certainly the correct term used in Pakistan.
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Aug 19, 2018 12:18am
@Ali Vazir ... A bond would actually cost Rs50,000.
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Aug 19, 2018 01:49am
@Suleman Because they are powerful!
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Aug 19, 2018 03:48am
If there is a smoke there is a fire! The circumstances warrant a transparent inquiry or investigation into.the matter. No one is above the law!
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Aug 19, 2018 11:05pm
Because they are the LAW
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