Tag: Asif Ali Zardari

  • Former president Zardari granted bail on medical grounds

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved the bail of former president Asif Ali Zardari on medical grounds and asked him to submit surety bonds worth Rs10 million.

    A week earlier, Zardari, who is under detention on charges of money laundering and presently undergoing treatment at a hospital, had agreed to file a bail petition on medical grounds at the insistence of his family members.

    His lawyers had moved the IHC for his bail.

    It had been announced by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during a brief news conference after meeting his ailing father at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) last Monday.

    In his petition, Zardari had maintained that he was suffering from a heart condition and has had three stents placed in his body. He had said that he also suffers from diabetes which means that he has to constantly monitor his blood sugar levels.

    The PPP co-chairperson’s medical reports were also submitted along with the application to the IHC so that bail may be granted.

    The high court had also admitted for hearing a bail petition filed by Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur. In her appeal, Talpur had maintained that she is the mother of a differently-abled child. In order to care for her child, she had asked the court to grant bail until the completion of the trial.

    Zardari, Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) alleges that the national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs3.77 billion because of the irregularities.

    Zardari was shifted to PIMS in October after the medical board stated that he was suffering from cardiac problem, diabetes and other ailments, and needed medical care.

  • Govt gives Zardari TV in jail, denies AC

    Govt gives Zardari TV in jail, denies AC

    The government has granted Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari the access to a television (TV) set, books, newspapers and icebox for medicine at his Adiala Jail cell in Rawalpindi, a private media outlet reported.

    However, he was denied an air-conditioner (AC) despite request because the medical board that had recently examined him at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), didn’t “recommend” it.

    The ailing former president has also been provided with medical staff to regularly monitor his health condition, including blood pressure and sugar level, in addition to a physiotherapist.

    Zardari, who is in jail for his alleged involvement in the fake accounts case, was transferred to the hospital last week after he had fallen sick.

    “Medical reports show that three arteries of Asif Zardari are blocked and he is suffering from severe spinal issues due to which he needs immediate medical attention,” his daughter Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari had told reporters at the time.

    His counsel had also moved an accountability court for A-Class jail accommodation and argued that the constitution guarantees facilities to a former president for life.

  • ‘Nawaz, Zardari ready for plea bargain if Imran quits politics’

    ‘Nawaz, Zardari ready for plea bargain if Imran quits politics’

    Former jailed prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari are ready to strike a deal for their release on the condition that PM Imran Khan leaves politics, senior journalist Dr Moeed Pirzada has said.

    Sharing a “theory doing rounds in political quarters”, while hosting “Hard Talk Pakistan” television programme on a private media outlet Monday night, the journalist said that the two incarcerated leaders were ready to pay even more than $10 billion, but do not want to plead guilty.

    “They are seeking plea bargains and might pay up to $20 billion, but are not ready to confess. They’re ready to leave the country but want a future for their children in politics,” he said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Rumours are rife for the past few days as several journalists claim an underhand deal allegedly being negotiated between political leaders jailed over corruption charges and the PM Imran-led government.

    No official statements have made headlines as of yet.

  • ‘No one asked Imran for an NRO,’ says Aseefa in maiden interview

    ‘No one asked Imran for an NRO,’ says Aseefa in maiden interview

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari’s daughter, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, has said that no one even ever asked the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led government for a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and her father “would not be striking any deals to avail it”.

    NRO is an ordinance issued by former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf in 2007. It grants amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who are accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering or even murder.

    In her maiden solo interview to BBC Urdu, the late PM Benazir Bhutto’s daughter on Sunday said that her father spent over eleven years in jail where he was tortured without conviction and he didn’t make any deals even back then.

    “People of Pakistan are living in abhorring conditions, while the government is continuously insisting that it won’t give an NRO to anyone,” she said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “…but the question is that who even asked the government for one?”

    To a question regarding joining politics, Aseefa said it was not a compulsion, but one could raise his or her voice for the masses by entering politics. “I will continue to be their voice along with my brother.”

    She also said that family members of the jailed former president were not satisfied with the healthcare facilities being provided to the latter in prison.

  • Zardari’s sister seeks iPod, mosquito killer and maid in jail

    Zardari’s sister seeks iPod, mosquito killer and maid in jail

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur has pleaded with the accountability court for the provision of facilities in her prison cell.

    According to reports, Talpur, who is currently in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the money laundering case against her and Zardari, has sought facilities including an air-conditioner, television, microwave oven, mosquito killer lamp, torch, iPod and a maid.

    The incarcerated Sindh Assembly lawmaker has sought an iPod for ‘listening to the Quran’, the application filed by her legal team said.

    The PPP MPA was last week shifted to Adiala Jail from Polyclinic. She was under house arrest since June 14 after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected her bail in connection with a case pertaining to alleged money laundering through fake accounts.

    The PPP leader was shifted to the Polyclinic after her condition had deteriorated earlier this month.

    Meanwhile, the court has extended both Faryal and Zardari’s judicial remand till September 5.

  • Zardari seeks A-class facilities in prison

    Zardari seeks A-class facilities in prison

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari, who is currently locked up in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for his alleged involvement in the fake bank accounts case, has sought A-class facilities in prison.

    According to the details, Zardari on Friday was shifted to Adiala on a three-day judicial remand in connection with the long-running mega money laundering case.

    Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities presented the ex-president before an accountability court and sought extension in his remand in light of the recent developments in the case.

    As the proceedings continued, Zardari’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa maintained his client had already said that he be given a 90-day remand at once.

    “NAB officials ask for a four-day remand then again ask for a new remand. These repeated appearances are only causing losses to the national treasury,” the counsel said.

    Khosa also filed a plea in the court asking that Zardari be provided with A-class facilities in prison, including medical facilities and the permission to meet his family.

    The accountability court then summoned a reply from NAB regarding the request and issued orders to shift Zardari to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.

    JAIL FACILITIES:

    The classes ‘A’ or ‘B’ have prisoners who by social status, education or habit of life have been accustomed to a superior mode of living. Habitual prisoners can be included in this class by order of the government.

    The expenses of facilities to prisoners under A or B class, such as television, air-conditioner, fridge and newspapers, are usually paid by prisoners with the permission of the prisons department.

    Zardari’s petition seeking A-class facilities comes weeks after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan announced removing the air-conditioner and television facilities provided to jailed ‘money launderers’.

  • PM Imran’s US trip cost taxpayers Rs11 million

    PM Imran’s US trip cost taxpayers Rs11 million

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s visit to the United States (US) has cost the national treasury around Rs11 million ($67,180), it was revealed Thursday.

    According to the breakdown of expenses released by the government, Rs1.35 million were spent on accommodation for PM’s 27-member delegation, while the PM chose to stay at Pakistan Embassy.

    An amount of Rs92,120 were incurred on transport, Rs142,000 on gifts, Rs6,075,800 on airfare, miscellaneous expenditures stood at Rs1,287,460, tips at Rs706,001 and meals at Rs1,389,077.

    There was no TA/DA for any official and the ministers accompanying PM Imran.

    WAY LESS THAN NAWAZ, ZARDARI’S EXPENSES:

    The premier set an example of simplicity and austerity by saving millions of rupees of the national exchequer as he spent much less than the visits of former PM Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

    His spendings were 11 times less than Zardari and eight times less than Nawaz, who spent $752,688 and $549,853 on their visits to the US, respectively.

    Earlier, PM Imran travelled to the US on a commercial flight instead of a special aircraft. He stayed at the residence of Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington DC instead of a 7-star hotel, while he bore his family’s expenditure himself.

    His visit was termed a success owing to the mammoth crowd he pulled at Washington’s Capital One Arena and his meeting with President Donald Trump wherein the two leaders forged good chemistry.

  • NAB deputy director, who arrested Zardari and Abbasi, ‘followed by suspicious car’

    NAB deputy director, who arrested Zardari and Abbasi, ‘followed by suspicious car’

    The vehicle of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi Deputy Director Asad Mehmood Janjua, who arrested former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has been “chased by a suspicious car”.

    As per the details available with The Current, Islamabad police, in this regard, have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown people.

    According to the complaint lodged with the inspector general (IG) of the capital police by NAB officer Muhammad Saleem Khan, Janjua was driving back home after his official duty via Margalla Road when he noticed a suspicious car following him.

    “As he reached near F-9 Park at about 5:30 pm, he noticed a Toyota Vitz bearing registration number AAG-712 with tinted glasses following him. Feeling the situation, the NAB officer slowed down his car but the chaser kept on following. When he turned towards Marquees of E-11 on Margalla Road, the chaser also turned his vehicle and kept on following till he parked his car in front of a shop. The chaser hesitantly turned his car to a street, next to the shop,” the FIR read.

    The officer could not observe who was in the suspicious vehicle because of the tinted glasses. Suddenly, the suspicious vehicle disappeared from the scene, the complainant added, with the request to provide security to the NAB officer.

    The case has been filed at Islamabad’s Golra Shareef police station over the anti-corruption watchdog’s complaint against unidentified persons under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Other than Zardari and Abbasi, investigators said, Janjua had also arrested the former president’s sister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur.

    Meanwhile, police have said that many activists of political parties could be rounded up with their top slot leadership, to hunt the chasers.

  • 41% people happy over Zardari’s arrest, 31% unaffected: survey

    A recent survey has revealed that 41% of Pakistanis are happy over the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari, while the development has left 31% people unaffected.

    As per the details, the Gilani Research Foundation survey, based on a sample size of 1,386 men and women, was conducted in both urban and rural areas of all four provinces of the country from June 15-24.

    Among other answers, just 22% Pakistanis said they were upset, 2% remarked that they did not hear about the matter and 4% commented that they were either not aware or did not wish to respond.

    Former president Zardari was arrested on June 10 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials and is accused of plotting to “misappropriate and launder” money out of the country through fake bank accounts.

    Other allegations against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman include his use of Omni Group “front men” as associates in crime and receiving millions in cash.