NAB arrests former CDA chief in Park Lane reference

NAB arrests former CDA chief in Park Lane reference

KARACHI (Dunya News) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday has arrested former chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Farkhand Iqbal in Park Lane reference. The ex-chief was taken into custody from Rawalpindi over the allegations of awarding 118 kanals of government’s land to Park Lane company. On August 10, 2020, accountability court had indicted Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Park Lane reference on video link.

During the hearing, the PPP leader had pleaded not guilty in the case and asked the judge to write in the order that there was no defence counsel over which, the judge said that you don‘t need lawyer for listening to the accusations listed in the charge sheet.

I am bearing cases against me for 20 years, Zardari told the court.

The court had also rejected Zardari’s request for withdrawal of plea seeking acquittal and dismissal of the case. Former president’s petition challenging jurisdiction of the court to hear this matter was also rejected. In December 2019, former president Asif Ali Zardari was released on medical grounds after an accountability court in Islamabad issued separate robkars [mandamuses] in the Park Lane Estate Company and the money laundering through fake bank accounts cases against him. 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.