Zardari rejects money laundering allegations

Former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari was put in the hot seat during an Interview with a channel in Pakistan in which he outrightly rejected allegations that he had illegally channelled funds through benami accounts in connivance with the CEO of major banks.

Seven individuals, including Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur, were reported by investigators to be involved in using certain bank accounts for suspicious transactions totalling Rs35 billion.The Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered the Interior Ministry to place the names of all suspected beneficiaries ─ including Zardari and Talpur ─ and accused persons identified in the case on the Exit Control List, “so that they may not leave the country until the investigation in the matter is concluded or till further orders passed by this court”.

He said of the notice issued by the SC summoning him and his sister Faryal, “The notice we have received is that for Rs15 million. The drums that are being beaten are for Rs35 billion.” Zardari who is also the co-chairman of PPP, said that he “will see what happens” as he has faced many such cases before. “It does not matter if our opponents make such a move,” he said, appearing unfazed.

Responding to the allegations that he faces, he said: “Yes I outright reject these allegations. I am not denying that I have no relationship. Their sugar mills are located very close to my lands. My clerk and their clerk might have some give and take [arrangement] going on.”