Fake bank accounts case: Judicial remand of Zardari, Talpur extended till Sep 5

The Accountability Court hearing multibillion rupees fake bank accounts case on Monday extended judicial remand of former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the mega money laundering and Park Lane reference till September 5.
Hearing the mega money laundering and Park Lane reference, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman to provide copies of reference to the accused persons till next hearing.
When the court called the name of accused Alam Masood while marking attendance of the accused of mega money laundering case, Zardari said, "A 90-year-old man has been kept in jail."
Defence counsel Farooq H Naeek told the court that despite completion of 90 days remand, the NAB has so far not provided the copies of reference of mega money laundering case to the accused.
To this the judge inquired, "Where is the investigation officer (IO)? Why the copies of reference have not been provided to the suspects."
Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi told the court that copies of reference have been submitted to the Registrar Office. To this the court summoned the registrar Accountability Court and directed him to check whether or not the NAB submitted copies of reference to his office.
However, defence counsel Sardar Latif Khosa said that the NAB has not so far submitted the copies of reference to the Registrar Office.
To this the judge directed the NAB chairman to submit copies of reference on the next hearing.
Khosa further said that the NAB could not file supplementary reference in this case as this case had been shifted from the banking court.
The judge observed that the case which was shifted to this court is the reference.
Abbasi told the court that the NAB has decided to file a supplementary reference against Zardari and Talpur in the money laundering case. The reference will be filed in the light of new evidence found by the NAB in the case, he added.
Meanwhile, the NAB submitted its reply regarding Talpur's application seeking transit remand to attend session of the provincial assembly Sindh. The NAB deputy prosecutor told the court that Talpur is in judicial custody and the court will decide the matter.
Khosa filed another plea in the court seeking that his client be provided with A-class facilities in prison, including air-conditioner, medical facility and permission to meet his family members.
He also produced a previous judgement before the court that allowed Zardari A-class facilities in the jail. The court had allowed A-class facilities to Zardari in jail even when he was not president, he said, adding that his client is suffering from a number of medical problems which may pose a threat to his life; therefore, he should be granted with air-conditioning facility in the prison.
The NAB prosecutor and judge exchanged harsh words when the former said, "You are listening to Zardari's counsel but are not listening to our stance."
To this, the judge said, "In what tone you are addressing the court. Keep your voice low."
The prosecutor replied, "When you are not listening to me then I will talk in such away."
The judge said, "You have already expressed your stance that the matter is not related to the NAB."
"We have submitted our reply in one application that matter is not relevant to the NAB," he said, urging to hear his stance in other applications.
The judge further said, "I will talk to you tomorrow and will not hear you today."
The court will hear the plea for A-class facilities in prison on Tuesday (today).
Later, the NAB prosecutor apologised.
Khosa informed the court that Zardari was not allowed to offer Eid prayer when he was in the custody of NAB.
The court also marked attendance of the accused of Park Lane reference and provided copies of reference to them. The NAB investigation officer submitted compliance report of arrest warrants of Muhammad Younus Kudwai, Iqbal Memon and Uzair Naeem before the court. The investigation officer told the court that the three accused have been out of country for long.
The investigation officer further said that Kudwai is in Canada. The court returned arrest warrant compliance report and asked the investigation officer to submit in written that Kudwai is in Canada.
The IO told the court that NAB will issue red warrant of Kudwai to bring him back to the country.
The court adjourned hearing of mega money laundering and Park Lane reference till September 5.