The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday sought the arguments about the maintainability of petition of Faryal Talpur, a leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) against Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s interim charge-sheet in the money laundering case.
A divisional bench of the SHC took up the petition of Faryal Talpur, which was filed in the court by his counsel Farooq H Naek. Court also issued notices to the prosecution and defence and submitted them to furnish their written replies by August 09.
Faryal Talpur counsel giving the arguments in the court stated that his client has been declared absconder in the Challan and pleaded that this challan should be declared illegal as it is not evident from the FIR that his client has committed any wrongdoing.
He contested the challan against his client and said that it was approved as it was submitted before the magistrate. "Magistrate didn't tell the reasons for the approval of challan. The Counsel also disputed FIA on the ground that it didn't mention about money laundering in it.
Farooq Naek also pleaded for suspending the interim charge-sheet against Faryal Talpur and prayed the court to issue stay order on the challan of FIA as it didn't explain about the role of Faryal Talpur clearly.
Counsel also argued that his client has nothing to do with the allegations mentioned in the charge-sheet. He stated that court has to protect us as no other forum can do to protect the citizens of the country.
FIA is investing 32 people in relation to a money-laundering case from fake accounts with the inclusion of former President Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur in the list of these people.
Meanwhile, a division bench of the SHC sought the arguments from the counsels of the accused in a bail petition in china cutting case involving officials of Karachi Development Authority (KDA). Over twenty accused have been charged with their involvement in the China cutting of land in Gultistan-e-Jauhar.
The NAB prosecutor told the court the accused are involved in china-cutting of 32 amenity plots in Gultistan-e-Jauhar Karachi, which caused Rs 1.50 loss to national exchequer.
Earlier, the SHC turned down the application of the accused for interim bail in this case, however they again moved the court. Former Additional Director KDA Shakir along with Sheikh Fareed, Feroze Bangali, Saghir, Jahanzeb, Iqbal, Irfan Ahmed, Akhtar Rasheed and others are accused in this case.