ISLAMABAD: An accountability court of Islamabad on Thursday extended physical remand of three accused persons in fake accounts case till March 28.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) produced Aftab Memon, Mohammad Shabbir and Abdul Jabbar Memon before the accountability court.

The prosecution requested the court for physical custody of the accused, saying that they were required for further interrogation.

The counsel of the accused persons on the other hand opposed the physical remand and said that the investigation team was pressurizing them to testify against former president Asif Ali Zardari.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons have been medically examined and they were given medicine in accordance with the prescription of a medical officer.

Meanwhile, NAB has again submitted the record against Mr Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the accountability court of Islamabad. The Banking court of Karachi on the request of NAB transferred this case to NAB’s regional directorate in Rawalpindi.

In a related development, Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the interior ministry and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for placing Nadeem Hakim Mandviwalla on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Khurram Hashmi, counsel of Mr Mandviwalla, told the court that he was not party in the fake accounts case and also clarified his position before the joint investigation team constituted to probe the case regarding mega money laundering and fake accounts.

According to the counsel, the investigation agency placed his name on the ECL without any cogent reason.

The court sought a reply from the respondent authorities and adjourned further hearing till a date to be fixed by the Registrar Office.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2019