Pakistan’s ex-president faces money laundering probe

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan’s top court on Thursday constituted a six-member committee to probe into money laundering charges against former President Asif Zardari and his family.

The Joint Investigation Committee (JIT) will be headed by Ahsan Sadiq, a senior official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and also include a brigadier ranked officer of the premier spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), local broadcaster Geo News reported.

The JIT -- similar to the one constituted by the apex court to investigate corruption charges against jailed former premier Nawaz Sharif in 2016 -- will probe billions of rupees transferred into fake accounts allegedly by Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and several business associates in recent years.

The committee, which has been barred from leaking information to media, will submit its preliminary report to the court in the next 15 days.

Zardari, co-chairman of center-left Pakistan People’s Party, who served as president from 2008 -2013, is accused of laundering more than Rs 35 billion (nearly $300 million) in connivance with business associates through fake accounts.

Zardari, who is on a bail in the said case, denies the charges.