Asif Zardari produced before accountability court in money laundering case

Strict security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward situation.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Former president Asif Ali Zardari has been produced before accountability court in mega money laundering case today (Friday). According to details, strict security arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward situation while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers also arrived at the scene and protested against the arrest. Talking to media after the hearing, the former president demanded Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to resign and go home as he has failed to run the government in a smooth way. He further said that the investigation of loans should be launched from Pervez Musharraf’s tenure. Faryal Talpur is not afraid of her arrest, he added. Earlier, doctors had conducted Zardari’s medical tests during which his heartbeat and blood pressure were normal but his diabetes level was found to be low. On June 10, Asif Ali Zardari had surrendered himself to a team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected his and his sister Faryal Talpur’s pre-arrest bail plea in the money laundering case. Following the refusal of bail, a team of anti-corruption watchdog accompanied by police personnel had reached the residence of PPP co-chairman and arrested him. Asif Zardari was taken to NAB office in Rawalpindi where he was shifted to cell no 2. On the occasion, small scuffles erupted between police and supporters of PPP outside his family’s residence in Islamabad as he was taken into custody. The charges in the latest case centre around allegations Zardari laundered vast sums of money through suspect bank accounts and companies. NAB is conducting investigations in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s verdict in the money laundering of billions through fake accounts case wherein it forwarded the joint investigation team (JIT) report with directions to investigate and file references. Zardari has repeatedly dismissed allegations he had a hand in the scheme. Never popular and always shrouded in controversy, Zardari -- who was once jailed for 11 years for corruption -- stepped down from the president s office in 2013. But he has continued to serve as co-chairman of the opposition PPP. The arrest comes as the economy continues to spiral and discontent simmers in Pakistan following repeated devalutions of the rupee, soaring inflation, and rising utility prices.