Zardari, son given questionnaires

Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday appeared before a Combined Investigation Team (CIT) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and recorded their statements in connection with fake bank accounts scam.
According to a NAB official, the NAB CIT headed by Director General (DG) Irfan Naeem Mangi questioned both the PPP leaders for two hours with respect to three cases. The CIT also handed over questionnaires to the duo regarding three cases and directed them to submit replies within 10 days before the investigating team, he said.
He said that a NAB team would review the replies as per law. The NAB team would legally evaluate responses given by the duo during the investigations on Wednesday as well as to the questionnaires and decide whether or not they would be summoned in these three cases again.
Sources said that three cases against Zardari and Bilawal pertained to Park Lane Estate Company, a Karachi-based firm allegedly acquired by Zardari in 1989. In 2009, Zardari and Bilawal became shareholders of the company, they said. They said that Bureau had started an inquiry against Park Lane Estate Company (Pvt) Ltd and officers of Capital Development Authority (CDA) on allegation of illegal transfer of land. CDA illegally allotted 118 kanal and 14 marla of land of Punjab Forest Department to M/s Park Lane Estate Company (Pvt) Ltd, they said. Billions of rupees were purportedly transferred to the company's accounts through fake bank accounts and company acquired loans of billions of rupees from banks.
Earlier, both Zardari and Bilawal along with Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and their counsel Farooq H Naek arrived at NAB headquarters in the form of a convoy surrounded by party workers at around 11:00am amid tight security arrangements. The motorcade of PPP leaders was stopped at the gate of NAB headquarters for some time by party workers who surrounded the vehicles and tried to make their way into the NAB building.
Asif Ali Zardari's vehicle was allowed by the security personnel to enter the premises for he is a former President of Pakistan but Bilawal was stopped at the gate. The NAB officials wanted Bilawal to walk inside but he refused. Later, Bilawal's vehicle was also allowed to enter the premises. NAB official allowed Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to enter NAB building but did not allow Farooq H Naek. Bilawal waved to his supporters before entering the NAB office. Some of the PPP workers managed to enter the NAB building along with the motorcade of their leadership.
Hundreds of PPP workers from different parts of the country came to the capital to express solidarity with the party leadership. Following the request of NAB, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police put security on high alert in and around the NAB headquarters as well as blocked roads leading to NAB office with barbed wire. Heavy contingents of police were deployed on different roads to avert any untoward situation.
However, after the arrival of PPP senior leadership, the activists removed the barricades and barbed wires and reached NAB office. Clashes took place between PPP workers and police at NADRA Chowk and in front of NAB office. Police also took into custody some of PPP workers and also resorted to baton-charge. Some police personnel also received injuries on the occasion.
PPP senior leaders including Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Saeed Ghani, former Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Nafeesa Shah, Senator Khanzada Khan and PPP senior leader from Mardan Aurangzeb Khan were also present on the occasion. Khokhar scuffled with police personnel and thrashed a policeman when they tried to arrest party workers.