IHC grants bail to Asif Ali Zardari on medical grounds [Update Post #157]

[Bewal Express]

Will arresting Nawaz and Zardari eliminate corruption at all levels? The problem which has persisted in the society for several decades vanish overnight?

It will be start.

 

[IMMY69]

You are clutching at straws. This is PTI's government. What does corruption of PML and PPP have anything to do with the current hindrance in improving the economy? Are they running the country right now or is it Imran?

You have yourself accepted that corruption exists in every society, yet you fail to understand that it is not THE issue at the moment. Zardari being caught today or in one year has no impact on the economy.

You are extremely naive

 

[Savak]

You are clutching at straws. This is PTI's government. What does corruption of PML and PPP have anything to do with the current hindrance in improving the economy? Are they running the country right now or is it Imran?

You have yourself accepted that corruption exists in every society, yet you fail to understand that it is not THE issue at the moment. Zardari being caught today or in one year has no impact on the economy.

The PML and PPP increased Pakistan's foreign debts from $36 billion to $100 billion the last 10 years, the PTI government is dealing with the repayments of all those debts which they never took in the first place in an already bankrupt economy

 

[Bewal Express]

Who should you blame then?

None but Imran

He's the one who sold his principles and gave tickets to the electables regardless of their past. This is the reason sensible posters like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] do not take this fake change too seriously.

Sensible posters? The guy is just desperate for attention,I get the impression that so are you.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Why blame the govt, the NAB is doing what it is supposed to do? You want the PM to now act extra judicial and direct, interfere with the NAB and tell them not to do anything with Zardari when they have a solid case against him?

Are we going with the assumption that NAB, a notorious organization that has been always used as a tool to carry out political vengeance, operates independently?

 

[Bewal Express]

Sadiq Jan gives the full background to the case

 

[Savak]

Who should you blame then?

None but Imran

He's the one who sold his principles and gave tickets to the electables regardless of their past. This is the reason sensible posters like [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] do not take this fake change too seriously.

Well this is how it works in Pakistan, bark like a dog outside the system or play the game well and try to bring about your change and agenda when inside the system. IK over time realized practically speaking that the later was the more realistic approach.

I would have taken posters like Mamoon seriously if he had been as vocal when the likes of PPP and PML-N were in charge looting and plundering the economy but he was busy defending their corruption and has not come to terms with those parties being kicked out and the masses voting the PTI into office.

 

[Savak]

Are we going with the assumption that NAB, a notorious organization that has been always used as a tool to carry out political vengeance, operates independently?

Would you have raised these questions if it was a PPP-PML N government in charge targetting PTI politicians?

 

[The_Odd_One]

The PML and PPP increased Pakistan's foreign debts from $36 billion to $100 billion the last 10 years, the PTI government is dealing with the repayments of all those debts which they never took in the first place in an already bankrupt economy

PTI government has added more debt in last 6 months, they have officially made Pakistan the beggar of this world. How are they doing any better?

 

[The_Odd_One]

Would you have raised these questions if it was a PPP-PML N government in charge targetting PTI politicians?

Yes because the government's primary focus should be improving the economy. Common people have started saying that their lives were better in corruption than in this so called changed where they have been crushed with inflation and high bills.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

The closing chapter of the ANP

 

[Bewal Express]

PTI government has added more debt in last 6 months, they have officially made Pakistan the beggar of this world. How are they doing any better?

Yes to pay off the debts of your Corrupt friends. The PTI hasnt spent billions to win elections or laundered any cash. Infact it's been firefighting the disaster left behind by your Corrupt friends. Losers like you like to pretend that you are some neutral people because you don't have the courage to defend the mafia. Man up and defend your friends.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Well this is how it works in Pakistan, bark like a dog outside the system or play the game well and try to bring about your change and agenda when inside the system. IK over time realized practically speaking that the later was the more realistic approach.

I would have taken posters like Mamoon seriously if he had been as vocal when the likes of PPP and PML-N were in charge looting and plundering the economy but he was busy defending their corruption and has not come to terms with those parties being kicked out and the masses voting the PTI into office.

How can Imran then eliminate corruption when the people around him are also corrupt? What about the army? They are as corrupt if not more than their civilian counterparts. Ask anyone deals in army contracts. 20% commission/bribe on every contract is a standard practice these days.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Yes to pay off the debts of your Corrupt friends. The PTI hasnt spent billions to win elections or laundered any cash. Infact it's been firefighting the disaster left behind by your Corrupt friends. Losers like you like to pretend that you are some neutral people because you don't have the courage to defend the mafia. Man up and defend your friends.

I see that you have resorted to name calling, signs of a frustrated individual who has lost the argument.

If PMLN used up all of the money to fill their bank accounts then how was the country running better in the previous government?

 

[Savak]

PTI government has added more debt in last 6 months, they have officially made Pakistan the beggar of this world. How are they doing any better?

Lol, and the PPP PML N were distributing wealth to nations world wide, wrong, they were doing that for their relatives and friends instead.

 

[Savak]

Yes because the government's primary focus should be improving the economy. Common people have started saying that their lives were better in corruption than in this so called changed where they have been crushed with inflation and high bills.

Retrieving the stolen wealth and accounting for the $64 billion added to the foreign debts in the last 10 years is part of the process of repairing the economy. Common people didn't do jack when the PPP and PML N when they were in power, they now have to bear the consequences for voting them into power and accept the fact that there are no quick easy fixes to the economic woes right now.

 

[Bewal Express]

I see that you have resorted to name calling, signs of a frustrated individual who has lost the argument.

If PMLN used up all of the money to fill their bank accounts then how was the country running better in the previous government?

I am not a frustrated, I don't like fake people. You are fake.

 

[IMMY69]

To coin a phrase used by the corrupt PMLN/PPP and their various supporter of crime...

NAB may be corrupt but it sure is competent ��

 

[IMMY69]

I am not a frustrated, I don't like fake people. You are fake.

Of course he’s fake.

Don’t waste you breath on such morally defunct people

 

[slipcatch]

You are clutching at straws. This is PTI's government. What does corruption of PML and PPP have anything to do with the current hindrance in improving the economy? Are they running the country right now or is it Imran?

You have yourself accepted that corruption exists in every society, yet you fail to understand that it is not THE issue at the moment. Zardari being caught today or in one year has no impact on the economy.

What does PPP and PML- N had to do with current Pakistan’s economy issues, hmmmm

And what does him being accountable has to do with democracy and impact of economy, hmmm.

See, I’m trying to play your game, being dumb.

 

[last_knight]

You are clutching at straws. This is PTI's government. What does corruption of PML and PPP have anything to do with the current hindrance in improving the economy? Are they running the country right now or is it Imran?

You have yourself accepted that corruption exists in every society, yet you fail to understand that it is not THE issue at the moment. Zardari being caught today or in one year has no impact on the economy.

Can you elaborate corruption ?
Or you think bribery is the only form of corruption ?

 

[Junaid_ahmed]

Zardari ki wicket bhi girgae....

 

[Mian]

I remember in last 2 years some analysts on PP and in Media used the argument that Zardari is being given special treatment and only Nawaz Sharif is facing all the music...

I never thought i will see a day when Nawaz and Zardari both will be in jail at the same time!

Why not name those PP analysts like Mamoon? I still remember [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] writing long essays to bore us in panama and election threads to tell us how Zardari is being saved and Imran-Zardari are bhai bhai now to take NS down.
[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]'s long essays always backfire

 

[WebGuru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, Asif Zardari's arrest means nothing to me. It does not bring back my beloved father, who I watched die in front of me.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190185299161089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, I await only God's justice: that no one again will suffer the violence and pain that was inflicted on my father Murtaza, his six comrades and their families, when they were assassinated nearly 23 years ago.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190230853509120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the Pakistani state wants us to believe that they are suddenly serious about prosecuting the corrupt, it will have to answer why something as patently wretched as the NRO was ever made into law in the first place.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138191128849723392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Waseem]

At least I have the common sense which you severely lack.

Let's see how Imran survives the wrath of PMLN, PPP, MMA, lawyers, internal party rifts, etc.

So there is story of billions worth corruption, money laundering, arrest of symbol of corruption and all you are worried about is how Imran will survive the wrath of bunch of crooks? This the BIGGEST plus for Imran Khan, he doesn't care about his future in politics, fame, money etc and he is not a politician. He could've done so many things differently if he was a typical politician.
Who cares if Imran survives or not? I will be glad if Imran doesn't survive but it's also end of Zardari, Nawaz and and all other crooks from politics.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The National Accounta*bility Bureau (NAB) on Monday arrested former president Asif Zardari after cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court in the fake bank accounts case, prompting a strong reaction from the opposition and sporadic protests by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers in various parts of the country, mostly in the party-ruled Sindh province.

Terming his father’s arrest an act of “political victimisation” by the PTI government, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari while addressing a presser declared it a negation of Article 10-A of the Constitution that guaranteed the right of fair trial to every citizen, but appealed to party workers to remain calm and wait for party directives.

The main opposition PML-N questioned the timing of arrest, alleging that it had been done to divert public attention from the “IMF-prepared anti-people budget” that the government would present on Tuesday (today).

The former president was shifted to NAB’s Rawalpindi office in a black SUV from Zardari House in Islamabad’s Sector F-8/3 after a 15-member NAB team arrived there to arrest him exactly at a time when the National Assembly was in session.

The PPP had convened a meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) in anticipation of his arrest and to devise a strategy for the budget session of the parliament.

The IHC bench had also cancelled the bail of Mr Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur, a co-accused in the case, but she was not arrested as her warrants had not been issued, a NAB official told Dawn. He said Ms Talpur would be arrested within a day or two.

Protests erupt in parts of country, especially in PPP-ruled Sindh

Later in the night, Mr Bhutto-Zardari held a second news conference after chairing the meeting of the party’s CEC, which condemned Mr Zardari’s arrest, and said that the PPP would form a coordination committee to ‘engage’ parties in and outside parliament and other stakeholders. “We are not ready to compromise on democratic, economic and human rights of the people. We believe Asif Zardari’s arrest is a mere excuse and their real target is 1973 Constitution, 18th Amendment and democracy.”

TV channels showed Mr Zardari accompanying the NAB officials after he was seen off by his daughter Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, son Mr Bhutto-Zardari along with a number of senior party leaders and some two dozen charged party workers who had managed to reach the place though police and other law enforcement agencies had cordoned off the surrounding area of Zardari House.

Protest in National Assembly
After receiving the news of his arrest, PPP lawmakers staged a walkout from the National Assembly as they had been urging Speaker Asad Qaiser to ensure Mr Zardari’s presence in the house at a time when Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was responding to the speeches of Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif and other lawmakers.

The protesting members later returned to the house when Mr Bhutto-Zardari arrived to deliver a speech, but instead of giving floor to the PPP chairman, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri asked Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to speak on a point of personal explanation in response to Mr Sharif’s speech.

The PPP members insisted that the party chairman be allowed to speak in the house. The deputy speaker promised them that he would give floor to Mr Bhutto-Zardari if they took their seats and allowed the railways minister to continue his speech. However, Mr Suri abruptly adjourned the sitting shortly afterwards till Tuesday evening (today) amid slogans of “Go Niazi Go” by the opposition members.

Call for production order
Earlier at the outset of the sitting on the opening day of the NA budget session, PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri and ex-PM Raja Pervez Ashraf said Mr Zardari wanted to attend the proceedings but he was not being allowed by police and NAB officials who had surrounded his residence.

“He (Mr Zardari) is a member of this House and a former president,” Ms Marri said, while accusing NAB of harassing Mr Zardari.

“The two members of this house have already gone missing,” the PPP MNA said in her apparent reference to the arrest of MNAs Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar. “The opposition members are being picked up one by one. The opposition is being victimised against because they talk about people’s issues,” said a visibly-charged Marri.

Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif also called for issuance of a production order for the ex-president, arguing that there was “no reason” for NAB to arrest Mr Zardari when he had been regularly appearing before NAB and courts.

Govt response
Interior Minister retired brigadier Ijaz Shah and Foreign Minister Qureshi claimed that the government had nothing to do with the arrest of the former president as the courts and NAB were functioning independently.

Mr Qureshi said the PTI government had not filed the case in which Mr Zardari had been arrested. He said the PTI had always maintained that accountability should be held across the board and “NAB should not be used for witch-hunting”.

Expressing surprise over the opposition leader’s statement regarding the arrest, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said: “I thought Shahbaz Sharif will take the credit of the (Zardari’s) arrest as case investigations were started in 2015” when the PML-N was in power. He said then interior minister Chaudhry Nisar had claimed that his government had discovered those bank accounts.

‘Selected govt scared of criticism’
Addressing a press conference at Zardari House before the PPP’s CEC meeting at the shifted venue of Sindh House, the PPP chairman demanded resignation of both Speaker Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Suri over their “failure to run the house impartially”.

“When the government is selected and weak, it is scared of criticism,” the PPP chairman said, adding that the “selected government” wanted “selected media, selected judges and selected opposition”.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said what was the difference between this Naya Pakistan and Pakistan under the military dictators? “People were silenced then and the same is happening now,” he remarked.

The PPP chairman complained that he was not allowed to speak “yet again” in the assembly whereas three ministers got the chance to speak. He demanded that they resign from their posts as they were “acting like an extension of the government”. He accused the speaker of running the house at the dictates of the ministers sitting in the front rows.

“I wanted to ask the speaker. How can you scare the child whose grandfather was hanged, whose grandmother was beaten, whose mother was killed, whose one uncle was poisoned to death and the other was killed in a targeted attack,” he said.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari also lambasted the government for turning the country into a “censored Pakistan”. “Our media is facing censorship….. Those who don’t toe the line, face repercussions,” he said.

He lamented the government for its decision to file reference against the “pro-democracy” judges.

Asked about the role of the establishment in the recent developments, the PPP chairman said: “They are running everything. We know this. You know this. They also know this as well.

“But the PPP has always tried to uphold democracy and tried to convince them that in democratic and civilised countries, army is posted in three positions: at the border, at the barracks and in the battlefield.”

Responding to a question, he said the future strategy of the party would be decided by the CEC and in consultation with the other opposition parties.

Court proceedings
Earlier in the day, the IHC bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani in a short order stated “for the reasons to be recorded later, instant petition is dismissed and ad-interim bail granted to the petitioner vide order dated March 28, 2019 is recalled”.

The same bench on March 28 had granted interim bail to Mr Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and others in the case related to transaction of Rs150 million to their private company through alleged fake bank accounts.

The case was originally registered with the Federal Investigation Agency and was filed before a banking court in Karachi. NAB later transferred this case to its Rawalpindi directorate.

The courtroom was packed with several key PPP leaders including former primer ministers Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Rehman Malik, Farhatullah Babar, Latif Khosa, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and representatives of the Peoples Lawyers Forum in attendance.

However, Mr Zardari and Ms Talpur had left the IHC just before the pronouncement of the order.

The judges observed that non-appearance of the accused persons at the time of pronouncement of decision would be incorporated in the order sheet.

Farooq Naek, the counsel for Mr Zardari, argued that the alleged case was related to transaction of Rs14 billion through alleged fake account, but the prosecution conceded that Rs150 million transactions had been done in the name of Zardari Group.

Mr Naek said Mr Zardari and his sister both were leading sugar cane growers of the region and they sold their crops to Omni Group and in return received cash through banks. He said Rs150 million was in fact the payment for sugar cane that they had sold to the sugar mills owned by Omni Group.

Additional prosecutor general of NAB Jahanzeb Bharwana said the anti-graft watchdog was investigating billions of rupees transactions through 28 bank accounts for which the investigation team required custody of the accused persons. He said the NAB chairman had already issued arrest warrants for Mr Zardari.

After the court order, NAB issued a letter to the National Assembly speaker informing him about the arrest of Mr Zardari.


https://www.dawn.com/news/1487433/zardari-nabbed-after-rejection-of-bail-plea

 

[amvbfm]

PTI government has added more debt in last 6 months, they have officially made Pakistan the beggar of this world. How are they doing any better?

Hmm, and the previous governments were generating all their revenues internally? We have been beggars for decades and Imran should be the last man to be blamed for it. Dar ruined the economy during his stint despite economic conditions being a lot more favorable. But yes, things looked better as everything was artificially propped up to trick the masses. Regardless of whoever came to power in the last election we would have ended up where we are today.

 

[shaaik]

PPP supporters across Pakistan protest against Zardari’s arrest

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party supporters began protests across the country against the arrest of former president Asif Ali Zardari in the fake accounts case.

On Monday, NAB arrested Zardari in the fake bank accounts case from Islamabad. The arrest came after a bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) — comprising Justices Amir Farooq and Moshin Akhtar Kayani — had rejected a plea filed by Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, seeking an extension in their interim bail in the fake bank accounts case.

Following the party leader’s arrest, PPP workers came out and held demonstrations, observing ‘black day’.

In view of the situation, a security alert was issued in Sindh and Rangers and police personnel began patrol to maintain law and order situation.

In Bajaur, protesters had a sit-in in front of the press club, where the speakers contended that the government is resorting to vindictive tactics and this hasn’t dampened their spirits.

In Tando Mohamad Khan, protesters came out and set fire to tires while in Gharo a rally was taken out.

Protests were also held in Badin and Mirpur Khas.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/239901-ppp-supporters-across-pakistan-protest-against-zardaris-arrest

 

[Kriketer]

Awesome news!!!! I don't think he's getting away this time, even if he comes out temporarily, he will be thrown back in. Imran seems to be conquering what was expected from him the most , to toss these corrupt looters behind bars, and one after another of these families are falling. Now get back as much from their looted assets.

Zardari should be hanged for all that he has done. It takes a special goon to support this pathetic ghunda politician.

 

[Technics 1210]

Why not name those PP analysts like Mamoon? I still remember [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] writing long essays to bore us in panama and election threads to tell us how Zardari is being saved and Imran-Zardari are bhai bhai now to take NS down.

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION]'s long essays always backfire

Where is he? Is he in hiding too?

He always said corruption was better than incompetence. Shareef, Zardari, and now Altaf - The corruption empire is crumbling!

 

[Kriketer]

What is the most pressing issue at the moment? Corruption or economy?

Second, was corruption only done by PMLN and PPP? After Nawaz and Zardari are dealt with, will corruption end?

You don't seem to understand the basic of economics. A country governed by corrupt looters is bound to struggle economically, that's why we have suffocated for decades. Seeing these goons thrown behind bars is a positive change in Pakistan's history, something that could earn common man's trust in the system and bring positive change for future economic climate and generations.

And spare us the thoughts of blaming Imran for current economical struggle. It's such a dumb argument that one can only laugh at. This is Pakistan, it has always been a third world country with struggling economy. Inflation and dollar fluctuations have been there in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

 

[IMMY69]

You don't seem to understand the basic of economics. A country governed by corrupt looters is bound to struggle economically, that's why we have suffocated for decades. Seeing these goons thrown behind bars is a positive change in Pakistan's history, something that could earn common man's trust in the system and bring positive change for future economic climate and generations.

And spare us the thoughts of blaming Imran for current economical struggle. It's such a dumb argument that one can only laugh at. This is Pakistan, it has always been a third world country with struggling economy. Inflation and dollar fluctuations have been there in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

OR

You can act on the economy whilst the legal institutions (NAB) carry out their own duties...

The two are not mutually exclusive.
That’s why called that poster naive.

 

[Mamoon]

I can write an essay to satisfy the cravings of some people, but will I? No.

People have the right to be optimistic and hopeful, and I have no reason to rain on their parade if they think that this is a major leap in the right direction.

However, people who think that corruption is the major stumbling block on the road to economic progression should look at India.

A country with similar social and cultural problems, but their heavy corruption has not impeded their economic growth. That is because instead of focusing on eliminating corruption, they have focused on building competencies.

In fact, some corruption is actually good - it works as a lubricant and keeps the system moving, but if you have competent people in charge, the corruption will never halt the system.

Pakistan though, have got their priorities wrong as usual. This government’s entire focus is on corruption and fake degree holders like Murad Saeed claiming that they will bring back the looted wealth - an unrealistic proposition that only serves to excite the gullible public.

PTI’s manifesto was built around bringing tabdeeli, but tabdeeli is not just about ending corruption; it should also be about develop competency and not repeating the strategic mistakes of the previous governments.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this government bringing any tabdeeli on competency front. That is why, the past 10 months or so have been a circus.

Asad Umar was championed as an economic genius for years, and in spite of PTI supporters defending their performance, he was booted out after 8 months, only to be replaced by a former PPP Finance Minister.

The inability to focus on competency is the reason why Fawad Chaudhry is the minister of Science and Technology, Firdous Awan is the Minister of Information (Propaganda), and a fake dentist is heading the health ministry in KP. He has a fake BDS degree and although he cannot extract a tooth, his bodyguards are good at breaking bones of doctors.

After failing as CM KP, Pervez Khattak is now the Minister of Defense. People were defending his performance, but Imran didn’t think him as worthy of being retained as CM KP. That is why he gave him the most useless ministry in the country.

In Pakistan, the significance of the Defense Minister is absolutely nothing. Constitutionally, he is superior to the COAS, but practically, he has zero influence on the COAS and DG ISPR, and I will be surprised if they even care to brief him on defense matters.

However, in KP, he has been replaced by a weak, yes man who doesn’t dare to speak unless he gets clearance from the military.

FATA is now part of KP, but he has had nothing to say on the whole PTM and military situation. The military is still calling the shots in FATA even though, it is now CM KP’s headache.

Imran Khan himself was sacked as Interior Minister by his masters, who wanted an ISI man in power.

There are of course many other examples of PTI ministers who are completely misfit and unqualified for their roles. They are incapable of driving the country forward even if they don’t do a rupee of corruption.

Imran’s team selection clearly exhibits that although he is not afraid of removing players who are underperforming, he has no eye for competency and ends up replacing a non-performing player with someone who is even worse.

My post is longer than I intended, but at least I didn’t write an essay specially on the removal of Zardari, why and how it happened and what will be the long-term ramifications.

 

[Mian]

I can write an essay to satisfy the cravings of some people, but will I? No.

People have the right to be optimistic and hopeful, and I have no reason to rain on their parade if they think that this is a major leap in the right direction.

However, people who think that corruption is the major stumbling block on the road to economic progression should look at India.

A country with similar social and cultural problems, but their heavy corruption has not impeded their economic growth. That is because instead of focusing on eliminating corruption, they have focused on building competencies.

In fact, some corruption is actually good - it works as a lubricant and keeps the system moving, but if you have competent people in charge, the corruption will never halt the system.

Pakistan though, have got their priorities wrong as usual. This government’s entire focus is on corruption and fake degree holders like Murad Saeed claiming that they will bring back the looted wealth - an unrealistic proposition that only serves to excite the gullible public.

PTI’s manifesto was built around bringing tabdeeli, but tabdeeli is not just about ending corruption; it should also be about develop competency and not repeating the strategic mistakes of the previous governments.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this government bringing any tabdeeli on competency front. That is why, the past 10 months or so have been a circus.

Asad Umar was championed as an economic genius for years, and in spite of PTI supporters defending their performance, he was booted out after 8 months, only to be replaced by a former PPP Finance Minister.

The inability to focus on competency is the reason why Fawad Chaudhry is the minister of Science and Technology, Firdous Awan is the Minister of Information (Propaganda), and a fake dentist is heading the health ministry in KP. He has a fake BDS degree and although he cannot extract a tooth, his bodyguards are good at breaking bones of doctors.

After failing as CM KP, Pervez Khattak is now the Minister of Defense. People were defending his performance, but Imran didn’t think him as worthy of being retained as CM KP. That is why he gave him the most useless ministry in the country.

In Pakistan, the significance of the Defense Minister is absolutely nothing. Constitutionally, he is superior to the COAS, but practically, he has zero influence on the COAS and DG ISPR, and I will be surprised if they even care to brief him on defense matters.

However, in KP, he has been replaced by a weak, yes man who doesn’t dare to speak unless he gets clearance from the military.

FATA is now part of KP, but he has had nothing to say on the whole PTM and military situation. The military is still calling the shots in FATA even though, it is now CM KP’s headache.

Imran Khan himself was sacked as Interior Minister by his masters, who wanted an ISI man in power.

There are of course many other examples of PTI ministers who are completely misfit and unqualified for their roles. They are incapable of driving the country forward even if they don’t do a rupee of corruption.

Imran’s team selection clearly exhibits that although he is not afraid of removing players who are underperforming, he has no eye for competency and ends up replacing a non-performing player with someone who is even worse.

My post is longer than I intended, but at least I didn’t write an essay specially on the removal of Zardari, why and how it happened and what will be the long-term ramifications.

Same old rubbish this guy never gets tired of posting trash. This is the same guy who kept posting on Imran-Zardari bhai bhai for months on PP and is now trying to divert attention for face saving because one again his old garbage analysis backfired!

 

[Khan12]

I can write an essay to satisfy the cravings of some people, but will I? No.

People have the right to be optimistic and hopeful, and I have no reason to rain on their parade if they think that this is a major leap in the right direction.

However, people who think that corruption is the major stumbling block on the road to economic progression should look at India.

A country with similar social and cultural problems, but their heavy corruption has not impeded their economic growth. That is because instead of focusing on eliminating corruption, they have focused on building competencies.

In fact, some corruption is actually good - it works as a lubricant and keeps the system moving, but if you have competent people in charge, the corruption will never halt the system.

Pakistan though, have got their priorities wrong as usual. This government’s entire focus is on corruption and fake degree holders like Murad Saeed claiming that they will bring back the looted wealth - an unrealistic proposition that only serves to excite the gullible public.

PTI’s manifesto was built around bringing tabdeeli, but tabdeeli is not just about ending corruption; it should also be about develop competency and not repeating the strategic mistakes of the previous governments.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this government bringing any tabdeeli on competency front. That is why, the past 10 months or so have been a circus.

Asad Umar was championed as an economic genius for years, and in spite of PTI supporters defending their performance, he was booted out after 8 months, only to be replaced by a former PPP Finance Minister.

The inability to focus on competency is the reason why Fawad Chaudhry is the minister of Science and Technology, Firdous Awan is the Minister of Information (Propaganda), and a fake dentist is heading the health ministry in KP. He has a fake BDS degree and although he cannot extract a tooth, his bodyguards are good at breaking bones of doctors.

After failing as CM KP, Pervez Khattak is now the Minister of Defense. People were defending his performance, but Imran didn’t think him as worthy of being retained as CM KP. That is why he gave him the most useless ministry in the country.

In Pakistan, the significance of the Defense Minister is absolutely nothing. Constitutionally, he is superior to the COAS, but practically, he has zero influence on the COAS and DG ISPR, and I will be surprised if they even care to brief him on defense matters.

However, in KP, he has been replaced by a weak, yes man who doesn’t dare to speak unless he gets clearance from the military.

FATA is now part of KP, but he has had nothing to say on the whole PTM and military situation. The military is still calling the shots in FATA even though, it is now CM KP’s headache.

Imran Khan himself was sacked as Interior Minister by his masters, who wanted an ISI man in power.

There are of course many other examples of PTI ministers who are completely misfit and unqualified for their roles. They are incapable of driving the country forward even if they don’t do a rupee of corruption.

Imran’s team selection clearly exhibits that although he is not afraid of removing players who are underperforming, he has no eye for competency and ends up replacing a non-performing player with someone who is even worse.

My post is longer than I intended, but at least I didn’t write an essay specially on the removal of Zardari, why and how it happened and what will be the long-term ramifications.

This is an essay and oh yes corruption is good. What a pathetic post as usual. Maybe when someone corrupt takes over everything you have and nothing left, then let us know how good corruption is. Since you have been bought up on corruption money like your masters, it doesn't matter. Since is corruption is good we should release all the criminals who have stolen from people and let the criminals room free.
This is one of the dumbest post in PP history. Congratulation.

 

[Kriketer]

China keeps tackling corruption hence it's extremely progressive, India doesn't tackle corruption hence it's still in dumps. The competencies you talk are in most booming economies. World looks for cheap labor, big market, hence invests in those.

 

[The_Odd_One]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, Asif Zardari's arrest means nothing to me. It does not bring back my beloved father, who I watched die in front of me.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190185299161089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, I await only God's justice: that no one again will suffer the violence and pain that was inflicted on my father Murtaza, his six comrades and their families, when they were assassinated nearly 23 years ago.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190230853509120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the Pakistani state wants us to believe that they are suddenly serious about prosecuting the corrupt, it will have to answer why something as patently wretched as the NRO was ever made into law in the first place.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138191128849723392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Does anyone take her seriously? Her whole politics revolves around Zardari bashing. Everyone has moved on but her family. No wonder, they can't win anything to save their lives.

 

[The_Odd_One]

So there is story of billions worth corruption, money laundering, arrest of symbol of corruption and all you are worried about is how Imran will survive the wrath of bunch of crooks? This the BIGGEST plus for Imran Khan, he doesn't care about his future in politics, fame, money etc and he is not a politician. He could've done so many things differently if he was a typical politician.
Who cares if Imran survives or not? I will be glad if Imran doesn't survive but it's also end of Zardari, Nawaz and and all other crooks from politics.

The guy who sits with the likes of Jahangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi and gives ticket to Aamir Liaqat of all people is different from the rest? What a joke.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Hmm, and the previous governments were generating all their revenues internally? We have been beggars for decades and Imran should be the last man to be blamed for it. Dar ruined the economy during his stint despite economic conditions being a lot more favorable. But yes, things looked better as everything was artificially propped up to trick the masses. Regardless of whoever came to power in the last election we would have ended up where we are today.

I think there is no doubt about the corruption and incompetence of the Nawazs and Zardaris. However, in his own words, Imran would prefer suicide over going to IMF.

So, either he was too naive to understand how complex the economic troubles were or he simply lied to people to win elections.

 

[The_Odd_One]

You don't seem to understand the basic of economics. A country governed by corrupt looters is bound to struggle economically, that's why we have suffocated for decades. Seeing these goons thrown behind bars is a positive change in Pakistan's history, something that could earn common man's trust in the system and bring positive change for future economic climate and generations.

And spare us the thoughts of blaming Imran for current economical struggle. It's such a dumb argument that one can only laugh at. This is Pakistan, it has always been a third world country with struggling economy. Inflation and dollar fluctuations have been there in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

There is no need to look far. Musharraf did a great job keeping a healthy economy. The same Nawazs and Zardaris were there in the 90s. How did that government manage to run things smoothly once they took over from Nawaz?

Why did Imran fire Asad Umar in mere 8 months? Was it due to corruption or incompetence?

 

[Bewal Express]

There is no need to look far. Musharraf did a great job keeping a healthy economy. The same Nawazs and Zardaris were there in the 90s. How did that government manage to run things smoothly once they took over from Nawaz?

Why did Imran fire Asad Umar in mere 8 months? Was it due to corruption or incompetence?

Mush took over a debt of around $20bn, not great but manageable, Mush left $37bn, not great but manageable, IK has a debt of $100bn, so high that he is borrowing money to pay off the interest. Maybe you can explain where the $60bn went?

 

[The_Odd_One]

Mush took over a debt of around $20bn, not great but manageable, Mush left $37bn, not great but manageable, IK has a debt of $100bn, so high that he is borrowing money to pay off the interest. Maybe you can explain where the $60bn went?

Agreed. Then care to explain why did he make statements like Pakistan does not need to go IMF and other countries, etc.? Why did he oversimplify things like just remittance, foreign investment, etc would solve all the economic problems? Did he lie or did he not do his homework?

 

[Bewal Express]

Agreed. Then care to explain why did he make statements like Pakistan does not need to go IMF and other countries, etc.? Why did he oversimplify things like just remittance, foreign investment, etc would solve all the economic problems? Did he lie or did he not do his homework?

In politics you have to be practical. If he said that taxes have to go up and the Nooras said we won't put them up, who do you think people would have voted for. The reality is that the country has been bankrupted by theft, looting and incompetence and IK has started the fight back but it will take decades of honest govt to put the country on a sustainable path.

 

[The_Odd_One]

In politics you have to be practical. If he said that taxes have to go up and the Nooras said we won't put them up, who do you think people would have voted for. The reality is that the country has been bankrupted by theft, looting and incompetence and IK has started the fight back but it will take decades of honest govt to put the country on a sustainable path.

So, he basically lied to people. Someone who is not afraid of his life became "practical" just to win elections?

 

[Bewal Express]

So, he basically lied to people. Someone who is not afraid of his life became "practical" just to win elections?

No, he played the game his opponents played because he was playing under their rules. Who do you support?

 

[Technics 1210]

I can write an essay to satisfy the cravings of some people, but will I? No.

People have the right to be optimistic and hopeful, and I have no reason to rain on their parade if they think that this is a major leap in the right direction.

However, people who think that corruption is the major stumbling block on the road to economic progression should look at India.

A country with similar social and cultural problems, but their heavy corruption has not impeded their economic growth. That is because instead of focusing on eliminating corruption, they have focused on building competencies.

In fact, some corruption is actually good - it works as a lubricant and keeps the system moving, but if you have competent people in charge, the corruption will never halt the system.

Pakistan though, have got their priorities wrong as usual. This government’s entire focus is on corruption and fake degree holders like Murad Saeed claiming that they will bring back the looted wealth - an unrealistic proposition that only serves to excite the gullible public.

PTI’s manifesto was built around bringing tabdeeli, but tabdeeli is not just about ending corruption; it should also be about develop competency and not repeating the strategic mistakes of the previous governments.

Unfortunately, I don’t see this government bringing any tabdeeli on competency front. That is why, the past 10 months or so have been a circus.

Asad Umar was championed as an economic genius for years, and in spite of PTI supporters defending their performance, he was booted out after 8 months, only to be replaced by a former PPP Finance Minister.

The inability to focus on competency is the reason why Fawad Chaudhry is the minister of Science and Technology, Firdous Awan is the Minister of Information (Propaganda), and a fake dentist is heading the health ministry in KP. He has a fake BDS degree and although he cannot extract a tooth, his bodyguards are good at breaking bones of doctors.

After failing as CM KP, Pervez Khattak is now the Minister of Defense. People were defending his performance, but Imran didn’t think him as worthy of being retained as CM KP. That is why he gave him the most useless ministry in the country.

In Pakistan, the significance of the Defense Minister is absolutely nothing. Constitutionally, he is superior to the COAS, but practically, he has zero influence on the COAS and DG ISPR, and I will be surprised if they even care to brief him on defense matters.

However, in KP, he has been replaced by a weak, yes man who doesn’t dare to speak unless he gets clearance from the military.

FATA is now part of KP, but he has had nothing to say on the whole PTM and military situation. The military is still calling the shots in FATA even though, it is now CM KP’s headache.

Imran Khan himself was sacked as Interior Minister by his masters, who wanted an ISI man in power.

There are of course many other examples of PTI ministers who are completely misfit and unqualified for their roles. They are incapable of driving the country forward even if they don’t do a rupee of corruption.

Imran’s team selection clearly exhibits that although he is not afraid of removing players who are underperforming, he has no eye for competency and ends up replacing a non-performing player with someone who is even worse.

My post is longer than I intended, but at least I didn’t write an essay specially on the removal of Zardari, why and how it happened and what will be the long-term ramifications.

Let the record reflect, Mamoon voted for PTI, not for losing his envelopes.

 

[Waseem]

The guy who sits with the likes of Jahangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi and gives ticket to Aamir Liaqat of all people is different from the rest? What a joke.

Lol you must be shocked sitting comfortably in your ideal world but in a parliamentary democracy in country like Pakistan these are minor issues. Can't blame you as even Imran Khan thought he could change everything with dynamic, young & educated youth alone but realized after wasting years that first step is NOT to find 300 angels but he needs to get into the system to change it. To make the matters worse, lot of his first timers and educated youth also disappointed after getting to power. He will eventually achieve lot more in politics by being pragmatic than when he was idealist.

 

[amvbfm]

I think there is no doubt about the corruption and incompetence of the Nawazs and Zardaris. However, in his own words, Imran would prefer suicide over going to IMF.

So, either he was too naive to understand how complex the economic troubles were or he simply lied to people to win elections.

Most probably the former. There was a distinct lack of planning in everything that PTI did in its first few months. Be it the economy or formation of the government. Going to IMF was an inevitability and would have been a lot easier had they not delayed it for so long. Some benefit should be given, this being their first time in power but it does appear they had done very little homework on the economy. Similarly, the appointment of people like Buzdar and CM KPK raises questions about prior planning and internal party politics.

But despite all that he is the best option we have at the moment. People are assessing his overall performance based on a 9 month period which is absurd given the magnitude of our problems. The solutions we need to correct our path will take years if not decades to bear fruit and therein lies the problem for IK. Unlike NS who focused on short-term politically motivated and readily apparent projects like metros and motorways what IK is promising will take years to come to fruition and there is little, if any guarantee that he will get credit for it. The common Pakistani voter has a very short term memory and demands instant tangible results. While he does want his children to be educated, his everyday problems mean he can easily be distracted by the lure of roti, kapra and makaan. In such circumstances implementing IK's agenda becomes doubly difficult as he will have very little to show in his first few years.

 

[Savak]

Most probably the former. There was a distinct lack of planning in everything that PTI did in its first few months. Be it the economy or formation of the government. Going to IMF was an inevitability and would have been a lot easier had they not delayed it for so long. Some benefit should be given, this being their first time in power but it does appear they had done very little homework on the economy. Similarly, the appointment of people like Buzdar and CM KPK raises questions about prior planning and internal party politics.

But despite all that he is the best option we have at the moment. People are assessing his overall performance based on a 9 month period which is absurd given the magnitude of our problems. The solutions we need to correct our path will take years if not decades to bear fruit and therein lies the problem for IK. Unlike NS who focused on short-term politically motivated and readily apparent projects like metros and motorways what IK is promising will take years to come to fruition and there is little, if any guarantee that he will get credit for it. The common Pakistani voter has a very short term memory and demands instant tangible results. While he does want his children to be educated, his everyday problems mean he can easily be distracted by the lure of roti, kapra and makaan. In such circumstances implementing IK's agenda becomes doubly difficult as he will have very little to show in his first few years.

People i feel are going overboard with the IMF, had PTI gone to the IMF from day 1, they would have been asking for a $18 billion loan and the IMF would have imposed much harsher tougher conditions, the PTI tried their best to obtain loans from countries like China, Saudia Arabia, UAE and were able to get $8-10 billion but they were unable to get any more from billateral countries due to which they had to go to the IMF for the shortfall. I am pretty sure that the IMF conditions are less harsh for the $6 billion they have given to Pakistan.

 

[amvbfm]

People i feel are going overboard with the IMF, had PTI gone to the IMF from day 1, they would have been asking for a $18 billion loan and the IMF would have imposed much harsher tougher conditions, the PTI tried their best to obtain loans from countries like China, Saudia Arabia, UAE and were able to get $8-10 billion but they were unable to get any more from billateral countries due to which they had to go to the IMF for the shortfall. I am pretty sure that the IMF conditions are less harsh for the $6 billion they have given to Pakistan.

From what I have gathered from public sources (obviously not privy to inside information) the conditions are pretty harsh which is understandable considering the IMF knew that it was Pakistan's last resort after exhausting all other sources.

 

[Savak]

From what I have gathered from public sources (obviously not privy to inside information) the conditions are pretty harsh which is understandable considering the IMF knew that it was Pakistan's last resort after exhausting all other sources.

Point is IK tried his best to follow his election manifesto of no IMF, in fact Asad Umar and Imran Khan in August 2018 before assuming office even acknowledged that the IMF was an option but they wanted to try asking billateral countries first and the loans started coming in October and November. However after November the govt struggled to receive more loans and that is where the critics say that it was at this point where the PTI govt should have approached the IMF when its reserves were stronger.

Anyways i believe IK screwed up by not bringing Shabbar Zaidi on board from day one. Heck this commission he announced yesterday should have been announced from day one and yes i am still shocked as to how he did not assess Asad Umar's capacity to be Finance Minister given that he had been a senior leader in the PTI for 7 long years, maybe Asad Umar did a wonderful job in promoting himself as PTI's finance minister all those years and taking people for a ride.

 

[Zhasan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, Asif Zardari's arrest means nothing to me. It does not bring back my beloved father, who I watched die in front of me.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190185299161089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a daughter, I await only God's justice: that no one again will suffer the violence and pain that was inflicted on my father Murtaza, his six comrades and their families, when they were assassinated nearly 23 years ago.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138190230853509120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the Pakistani state wants us to believe that they are suddenly serious about prosecuting the corrupt, it will have to answer why something as patently wretched as the NRO was ever made into law in the first place.</p>— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) <a href="https://twitter.com/fbhutto/status/1138191128849723392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh what self inflicted bubbles our insulated elites live in...

Her father, who she speaks so glowingly was a terrorist. His terrorist outfit AlZulfiqar's reign of terror, bombings, assasinations, kidnapping, the usual playbook, led to the deaths of at least 4000 Pakistanis civilians...

The most high profile of which was the hijacking of PIA airliner by daddy's trained goons, who shot, killed and overthrew the body of a young newly married Army captain who was a passenger on this flight...

Zardari did kill her father and even the devil has redeeming qualities...this is one of Zardari's

 

[amvbfm]

Point is IK tried his best to follow his election manifesto of no IMF, in fact Asad Umar and Imran Khan in August 2018 before assuming office even acknowledged that the IMF was an option but they wanted to try asking billateral countries first and the loans started coming in October and November. However after November the govt struggled to receive more loans and that is where the critics say that it was at this point where the PTI govt should have approached the IMF when its reserves were stronger.

Anyways i believe IK screwed up by not bringing Shabbar Zaidi on board from day one. Heck this commission he announced yesterday should have been announced from day one and yes i am still shocked as to how he did not assess Asad Umar's capacity to be Finance Minister given that he had been a senior leader in the PTI for 7 long years, maybe Asad Umar did a wonderful job in promoting himself as PTI's finance minister all those years and taking people for a ride.

IK has never been a good judge of character Also, i feel his shortcomings notwithstanding, in the end Asad was made a scapegoat for the failure of the government at large.

 

[Syed1]

Zardari taken to hospital

https://www.geo.tv/latest/240217-za...er-drop-in-sugar-level-blood-pressure-sources

 

[Syed1]

As expected as soon as these sc.ms are sent to jail all their organs start failing

 

[Bewal Express]

Zardari taken to hospital

https://www.geo.tv/latest/240217-za...er-drop-in-sugar-level-blood-pressure-sources

Didn't he warn IK that he doesn't fear jail- so what happened to the Crook? Couldn't handle jail for a few days.

 

[WebGuru]

As expected as soon as these sc.ms are sent to jail all their organs start failing

The brave democrat

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Witnessing AZ hanged/die in jail is something I'd pay to see

 

[Bewal Express]

Today he asking to be sent to hospital in Karachi. Why do criminals like him and NS get to ask for anything.

 

[Savak]

Today he asking to be sent to hospital in Karachi. Why do criminals like him and NS get to ask for anything.

It's hilarious and strange, Pakistan must be the only country in the world where the opposition behaves and gets treated as if they are ruling the country, this is where IK and the PTI need to behave with an iron fist

 

[Bewal Express]

It's hilarious and strange, Pakistan must be the only country in the world where the opposition behaves and gets treated as if they are ruling the country, this is where IK and the PTI need to behave with an iron fist

Totally agree, too much respect given to these crooks. This then intimidates people as they think that will be back in power if the govt cant deal with them.

 

[WebGuru]

Breaking: NAB places Faryal Talpur under house arrest

 

[Bewal Express]

Breaking: NAB places Faryal Talpur under house arrest

She is one horrible women. How does she sleep at night after her looting from the poor of Sindh?

 

[MenInG]

PPP leader Faryal Talpur, the sister of former president Asif Zardari who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) earlier this week, was arrested by NAB officials in Islamabad on Friday in connection with a case pertaining to money laundering through fake accounts, a NAB spokesman said.

A five-member NAB team including female investigators is at Zardari House, Islamabad, which was notified as a sub-jail by the NAB chairman earlier today "for the purposes of detention of accused under the NAO, 1999", according to a notification issued by the accountability watchdog.

PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari was arrested on Monday after cancellation of his and Talpur's pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court in the fake bank accounts case, prompting a strong reaction from the opposition and sporadic protests by PPP workers in various parts of the country, mostly in Sindh.

The NAB said the grounds for arresting Zardari included whitening ill-gotten money through fake accounts, acquiring stakes in Summit Bank through fraudulent means, using Omni Group as a hedge between himself and fake accounts, receiving millions of rupees from two fake accounts, and getting unauthorised payments released for construction of a Karachi plot.

Zardari is currently on physical remand in NAB custody. NAB sources told DawnNewsTV that investigators, after their questioning of Zardari, had concluded that Talpur's arrest was "unavoidable".

Zardari spent 11 years in jail on corruption and murder charges before becoming president in 2008. But he was never convicted and has continued to deny any wrongdoing.

According to Radio Pakistan, Talpur will be produced before an accountability court tomorrow to seek her physical remand.

'Govt targeting opposition'
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, at a press conference following the arrest, accused the government of "using blackmail and pressure to run institutions, of which NAB is only one example".

He claimed that his father and aunts' arrests were announced on dates that a budget and Pakistan Economic Survey were to be presented "so that people's attention is diverted away from the government's economic terrorism".

He alleged that the government "knows they don't have a majority and their government can fall at any time, that's why they have targeted the opposition".

"If they pass the budget this way, without issuing production orders for all MNAs, it is rigging," he said.

The fake accounts saga
In 2015, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had launched a probe into fake accounts and fictitious transactions conducted through 29 ‘benami’ accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and UBL on the basis of a tip-off.

Initially, seven individuals, including Zardari and Talpur, were said to be involved in using those accounts for suspicious transactions. The accounts were allegedly used to channel funds received through kickbacks.

Later, the apex court took a suo motu notice on the delay in the FIA probe into the case. The SC also constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the matter.

The JIT during the course of investigation uncovered 33 more suspicious accounts linked to the case, while nearly 170 individuals linked to the case were put on the no-fly list.

According to a report submitted in the court, 210 companies were also found to have alleged links to the case. As many as 47 of these companies and 334 people were associated with the Omni Group — owned by a close aide of Zardari. At one stage, the top court had frozen all assets and accounts of the group.

The accountability watchdog and the FIA allege that an account titled M/s A One International was fake and it received a sum of Rs4.4 billion out of which Rs30 million were paid to the Zardari Group at two different times.

The FIA had filed the case before a banking court in Karachi which had issued an arrest warrant for Zardari. Subsequently, the PPP leader had obtained protective/transitory bail from the IHC on August 18, 2018. Later, the case was shifted from the accountability in Karachi to an accountability court in Islamabad as the investigators accused the PPP of influencing the case.

During the course of the investigation, on April 8, two accused in the case — Kiran Aman and Noreen Sultan — became approvers against Zardari and Talpur.

Several close friends of Zardari were arrested in the case, while the PPP chief and his sister Faryal Talpur were on an interim bail which was extended multiple times before being rejected on Monday. Both Zardari and Talpur are on bail in at least seven other cases of corruption and malpractice.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1488191/faryal-talpur-arrested-by-nab-officials-in-islamabad

 

[Mamoon]

Insaafiyans have no shame. They were accusing Kulsoom Nawaz for faking her illness as well, and then she died. Even a layman can tell that Zardari's health has deteriorated considerably over the past year or so.

 

[Savak]

Totally agree, too much respect given to these crooks. This then intimidates people as they think that will be back in power if the govt cant deal with them.

You should look at the Zardari arrest video inside Bilawal house. NAB officers who went to arrest him were profusely apologizing to him. This is the state of Pakistan for you. This mafia needs to be purged.

 

[Savak]

Insaafiyans have no shame. They were accusing Kulsoom Nawaz for faking her illness as well, and then she died. Even a layman can tell that Zardari's health has deteriorated considerably over the past year or so.

Hmm, by this logic the Nazi War criminals should never have been prosecuted because of their ill health. I had read Zardari has diabetes, parkinsons and even had chemotherapy for cancer. But the guy is a crook, thief, gangster and murderer and needs to be not only be held to account but the govt needs to get every ounce of his assets in the national exchequer.

 

[Bewal Express]

Insaafiyans have no shame. They were accusing Kulsoom Nawaz for faking her illness as well, and then she died. Even a layman can tell that Zardari's health has deteriorated considerably over the past year or so.

So whar if AZ has health deteriorated?

 

[the Great Khan]

Insaafiyans have no shame. They were accusing Kulsoom Nawaz for faking her illness as well, and then she died. Even a layman can tell that Zardari's health has deteriorated considerably over the past year or so.

Altaf hussein has kidney problems and other issues but was responsible for the direct and indiect death of nearly 8k people. Should he be prosecuted? or should we give a sick note to all criminals?

 

[Savak]

Look at the NAB officers profusely apologizing to this crook as if they are arresting an underworld don. I have my doubts whether NAB seriously intends to hold these criminals to account, it needs to be disbanded and purged as well.

 

[amvbfm]

Dramaybaazi shoro, custody may bhi VIP treatment milti hai magar dramaybaazi ki koi had nahi. Must not let him come back to Sindh.

 

[Bewal Express]

Look at the NAB officers profusely apologizing to this crook as if they are arresting an underworld don. I have my doubts whether NAB seriously intends to hold these criminals to account, it needs to be disbanded and purged as well.

This is so pathetic but not unusual, when people are scared of the mafia.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asif Zardari’s platelets also start dropping <a href="https://t.co/Fax69rXWBR">https://t.co/Fax69rXWBR</a> <a href="https://t.co/3O6yHHEc4c">pic.twitter.com/3O6yHHEc4c</a></p>— 92 News HD Plus (@92newschannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/92newschannel/status/1187793462147633152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Health minister claims no surgeon in Pakistan capable of operating on Zardari's spine<a href="https://t.co/9VEi1aA83F">https://t.co/9VEi1aA83F</a> <a href="https://t.co/oRORDuhGcx">pic.twitter.com/oRORDuhGcx</a></p>— The Express Tribune (@etribune) <a href="https://twitter.com/etribune/status/1187698510507970561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In an unrelated coincidence, the Health Minister of Sindh is Zardari's (other) sister.

 

[Bewal Express]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Asif Zardari’s platelets also start dropping <a href="https://t.co/Fax69rXWBR">https://t.co/Fax69rXWBR</a> <a href="https://t.co/3O6yHHEc4c">pic.twitter.com/3O6yHHEc4c</a></p>— 92 News HD Plus (@92newschannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/92newschannel/status/1187793462147633152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Health minister claims no surgeon in Pakistan capable of operating on Zardari's spine<a href="https://t.co/9VEi1aA83F">https://t.co/9VEi1aA83F</a> <a href="https://t.co/oRORDuhGcx">pic.twitter.com/oRORDuhGcx</a></p>— The Express Tribune (@etribune) <a href="https://twitter.com/etribune/status/1187698510507970561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In an unrelated coincidence, the Health Minister of Sindh is Zardari's (other) sister.

This is quite funny. Maybe he is joined at the spine with his brother NS.

 

[sweep_shot]

RAWALPINDI: ******tan Peoples Party leader Latif Khosa has called for allowing a panel of private doctors to examine incarcerated PPP leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

In an application submitted to the Adiala jail superintendent on Wednesday, Mr Zardari’s lawyer said that the doctors may be allowed to medically examine his client and they may also be facilitated to conduct any test required to safeguard his life.

Mr Khosa, who is a former governor of Punjab, said the PPP co-chairman was about 65 years old and suffering from multiple medical issues for a long time as has also been observed by the board of doctors constituted by the government under a court order of August 20 this year.

He said Mr Zardari’s medical condition and the persecutory nature of the false and politically motivated case merit that he may be allowed to be examined by the doctors of his own choice and medical experts at his own expense as mandated by the Constitution and the law.

He said other similarly poised NAB prisoners have been granted access to private doctors of their choice which also entitles the former president to similar treatment under Article 25 of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s spokesman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that Mr Zardari was seriously ill and the government should allow private doctors and his own physicians to examine him.

He said the sugar level of the PPP co-chairman was decreasing fast and he was suffering from critical cardiac disease which needed attention of doctors.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1515384/zardaris-examination-by-private-doctors-urged.

 

[sweep_shot]

IHC constitutes board to examine Zardari’s health condition

Spoiler

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday constituted a medical board comprising doctors of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and the personal physician of former president Asif Ali Zardari to examine his health condition.

Hearing a petition seeking post-arrest bail for Mr Zardari on medical grounds, an IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq sought a report from the medical board on Dec 11, when it will resume the hearing of the identical petitions filed by the former president as well as another bail petition filed by his sister Faryal Talpur in the fake bank accounts case.

The court also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a para-wise reply to these petitions.

Asks NAB to submit reply to bail petitions of former president and his sister

Advocate Farooq H. Naek, the counsel for Mr Zardari, argued before the court that the former president “is a chronic patient suffering from multiple ailments. He is a heart patient having three stents in his heart. He has a Holter Monitor attached to his chest so that the doctors are able to check and note variations in his heartbeat and blockages in his arteries. The petitioner is a patient of ischemic heart disease, which means that his heart may have inadequate supply of blood and oxygen”.

Mr Naek argued that Mr Zardari also “suffers from various other ailments such as cervical and lumbar spondylosis, sensory and motor neuropathy with impaired proprioception”.

The petition states: “The case against the petitioner is that the matter arouse out of inquiries initiated by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding fake/benami accounts connected with various individuals and entities. Another inquiry was also initiated on receipt of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) from the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). An investigation team headed by Dr Nazaf Quli Mirza, additional director general FIA, was constituted to investigate the matter.”

According to the petition, former chief justice Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of the case and transferred it to NAB.

Initially, the IHC granted interim bail to Mr Zardari and Ms Talpur in this case on Aug 18 last year, but NAB arrested the petitioner following dismissal of his bail plea on June 10 this year.

The petition said that NAB had detained Mr Zardari for 68 days and then the court sent him to Adiala jail on judicial remand. However, in October the petitioner was shifted to PIMS owing to his deteriorating medical condition.

According to the petition, Mr Zardari “is seriously ill and his condition is unstable … the petitioner is chronic patient suffering from various ailments including but not limited to cardiovascular disease … the petitioner is, undoubtedly suffering from multiple ailments and as such, needs treatment in conducive conditions free from any kind of pressure and stress. In custody, it cannot be said that the petitioner shall have full peace of mind”.

Subsequently, the court was requested that “the petitioner may graciously be granted bail after arrest”.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1520538/ihc-constitutes-board-to-examine-zardaris-health-condition.

 

[Abdullah719]

IHC grants bail to Zardari on medical grounds

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was on Wednesday granted bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq heard the application.

The former president was granted bail against two surety bonds of Rs10 million each.

Zardari, who is nominated in multiple money laundering and corruption cases being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had filed a bail plea in the high court earlier this month.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1521670/ihc-grants-bail-to-zardari-on-medical-grounds

 

[Knight_Rider]

 

[Bewal Express]

IHC grants bail to Zardari on medical grounds

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was on Wednesday granted bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq heard the application.

The former president was granted bail against two surety bonds of Rs10 million each.

Zardari, who is nominated in multiple money laundering and corruption cases being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had filed a bail plea in the high court earlier this month.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1521670/ihc-grants-bail-to-zardari-on-medical-grounds

A proper licker of the mafia. Where is the CJP and his blame of IK on this matter.

 

[Abdullah719]

Zardari released from Pims sub-jail a day after bail approval

Spoiler

Former president Asif Ali Zardari was on Thursday released from custody at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), a day after he was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the Park Lane and fake accounts cases on medical grounds.

Zardari was initially shifted to Zardari House in the capital. The party will decide there whether the PPP leader should be flown to Karachi today or tomorrow.

The former president was accompanied by his children Bilawal and Aseefa when he was allowed to leave Pims, which had been declared a sub-jail, after the completion of legal formalities. A large number of supporters gathered at the scene and threw rose petals on his car.

The IHC had on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to Zardari in the Park Lane and fake accounts cases on medical grounds against surety bonds of Rs20 million and adjourned proceedings on the bail petition of his sister and lawmaker Faryal Talpur till December 17.

Both Zardari and Talpur have been under detention for the past six months, until the former's bail.

The court noted that the petitioner, who is one of the accused in a reference pending before an accountability court, “has not been convicted and, therefore, he is to be treated as innocent unless proven guilty”.

PPP information secretary and MNA Dr Nafeesa Shah while commenting on Zardari's release said today was a "good day" for the country and democracy.

She expressed the hope that like Zardari, other PPP leaders who are incarcerated due to "NAB's black law" will also be given relief.

Shah said the court had granted bail to Zardari on medical grounds and merit after government-appointed doctors recommended his treatment at a specialist care facility.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1521885/zardari-released-from-pims-sub-jail-a-day-after-bail-approval