Pakistan: Former President Zardari, premier Gillani summoned in Toshakhana case

Pakistans Accountability court in Islamabad has summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani to appear in court on October 24 ARY News reported on ThursdayThese summons have been served pertaining to their involvement in cases related to fake bank accounts and the alleged unauthorized utilization of the governments gift repository known as Toshakhana during the PPPs governance from 2008 to 2013Moreover former president Zardari also asked to appear before the accountability court no 3 on October 24 in a fake accounts caseThe administrative judge at Islamabads Accountability Court3 Muhammad Bashir on Wednesday issued summons for the two politicians ordering them to appear in the court in person Pakistan based Express Tribune reportedIn 2020 the National Accountability Bureau NAB had filed a reference against Zardari Gillani and former prime minister Nawaz SharifIt accused former PM Gillani of extending illegal benefits to Zardari and Nawaz by allowing them to retain three luxury vehicles presented as gifts by foreign dignitaries NAB claimed that Gillani relaxed procedures related to submission of gifts in the Toshakhana to favor the politiciansIt said the accused through dishonest and illegal means for their personal benefit and interest retained the vehicles against a nominal payment of 15 percent of the total valueIt added that Zardari made the payments for the vehicles through bank accounts of the Omni Group chief executive and his son for which he has no plausible justification the Express Tribune reportedAlso read Pakistans antigraft body all set to reopen four graft cases exPM Nawaz SharifIt was established during investigation that these amounts are in the context of illegitimate laundered proceeds for the benefit of the accused the reference readThe reference said that Gilani in connivance with Zardari and Nawaz dishonestly and illegally relaxed the procedure for the acceptance and disposal of gifts which stipulate that vehicles shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipientsFake bank account cases against Asif Ali Zardari his sister Faryal Talpur and others have been transferred to Karachi it emergedAccording to sources documents of the cases have been received by the banking court of KarachiOmni Groups head Anwar Majeed has filed a petition in court seeking the removal of his name from the exit control list I want to leave the country for medical treatment abroad he pleaded to the court seeking the removal of his name from the nofly listFake bank account cases were transferred to National Accountability Bureau NAB court Islamabad in November 2019 and now the cases have returned to Karachi the lawyer saidThe Supreme Court had directed the accused to take the matter to the trial court My client has been aged 82 years and wants treatment in overseas counsel further saidFormer president and Peoples Party cochairman Asif Ali Zardari his sister Faryal Talpur and other accused were nominated in Rs four billion fake bank accounts case with allegations of money laundering and other chargesPakistan Supreme Court in its verdict restored graft cases against public office holders that were closed down following the amendmentsThe apex court ordered restoring all graft cases worth less than Rs500 million that were closed down against the political leaders belonging to different political parties and public office holders and declared the amendments voidThese include the Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz PMLN Supremo Nawaz Sharif Pakistan Peoples Party CoChairman Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani along with the LNG reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the rental power reference against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Geo News reportedAdditionally the court directed the NAB to return all records related to cases to relevant courts within seven daysThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever