Asif Zardari withdraws pleas seeking pre-arrest bail in fake bank accounts case

Stringent security arrangements were made by deploying security personnel.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday has withdrawn his all seven pleas seeking pre-arrest bail against National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiries in fake bank accounts case.

During the hearing of Park Lane and bullet proof cars cases in Islamabad High Court (IHC), the ex-president came to the rostrum and said no one can bar him from establishing a company, adding that all the cases against him are fake.

He continued, "Prosecutor said that I had developed a company but there is no evidence of loan. In past, I was sentenced to jail for eight years in famous BMW case. Almighty had helped me and I faced the charges."

While talking to media after the hearing, Zardari told that only petitions were withdrawn not cases. If they want to put me in  prison they can, he stated. On the occasion, stringent security arrangements were made by deploying security personnel to avoid any untoward situation. It is to be mentioned here that IHC had earlier issued production order of Zardari to participate in National Assembly budget session. 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.

Small scuffles were 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.