Transfer of money-laundering case: court to announce verdict on March 15

The banking court on Monday reserved the verdict regarding transfer of the money-laundering case to Rawalpindi Accountability Court that was requested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). It will announce the judgment on March 15.
The banking court extended duration of pre-arrest bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur and other accused of money-laundering case. Last month, NAB filed an application in the court for transfer of case from Karachi to Rawalpindi Accountability Court.
The NAB prosecutor contended that Supreme Court (SC) had ordered it to undertake investigations in this particular case and submitted before the court as sixteen references are being prepared against the accused of the money-laundering case.
Earlier, Farooq H. Naek, counsel for Asif Zardari and Faryal Talpur argued that JIT, formed on the orders of apex court, didn't recommend transfer of case. He stated even SC didn't order transfer of the case from Karachi to somewhere else.
Naek requested the court to reject the plea of NAB for transfer of the case and stated that the application of NAB is meant for 'pressurising' the banking court. He requested that section 16-A of National Accountability Ordinance 1999 should be reviewed. He said NAB wrongly claimed that apex court ordered for transfer of the case.
Naek also contended that nature of this case is not of "corruption or corrupt practices" and not of allegations for committing fraud with the people.
He read out the FIR of the case in the court room and argued that this case didn't fall in the purview of NAB to investigate it. He submitted that NAB application is non-maintainable for transfer of case and should be turned down.
Shaukat Hayat Advocate, counsel for Hussain Lawai and Taha Raza also opposed transfer of the case from Karachi to Islamabad and said that NAB plea speaks of ill-intention. He also argued that banking court has no power to order transfer of the case on NAB plea and submitted that when this court has not power to hear this case then FIA should withdraw the FIR into it.
Upon completion of arguments of both sides, banking court judge Tariq Khoso reserved the verdict, which will be announced on March 15. The JIT in its report accused more than 170 people of money laundering of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts. Among accused in the case are: Asif Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Anwar Majeed, Hussain Lawai and others.