Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said that authorities would have to prove that he had deposited money in fictitious bank accounts opened in the name of an ice cream vendor, rickshaw driver or a sweetmeat seller.
“By and large, I have an understanding of the law…Every other day surfaces a milkman or a sweetmeat seller, and money is found in their accounts,” he slammed while speaking to a private television channel.
“They have to first prove that I went and got an account opened, but that is not happening.”
Zardari said if it is established that he got the accounts opened, then a case could be lodged against him.
He, however, the PPP co-chairman said he could still “defend” himself.
“But that too I can defend telling them, ‘Yes, I deposited money in his account, it is my choice’,” Zardari said.
He further said bank officials are at fault, when asked who was to blame if the account holder did not even have knowledge of the account being operated in his name.
The FIA has been investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious bank accounts, including former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.
Published in Daily Times, November 2nd 2018.
