Zardari's interim bail extended till Dec 10 in money laundering scam

A banking court on Tuesday extended the interim bail previously granted to former Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, till December 10 in connection to a money laundering case.

Earlier today, Zardari and Talpur appeared before the banking court in Karachi for the case. Following a brief hearing, a judge granted the extension to the bails of the brother-sister duo and adjourned the matter till December 10, Geo News reported.

A joint investigation team, formed by the Pakistan Supreme Court, is also investigating the money laundering scam.

In January this year, an inquiry by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) began when the State Bank of Pakistan's financial monitoring unit issued a "suspicious transaction report" on 10 bank accounts. Transactions worth billions were made over the years when over 20 'benami' accounts were opened at a private bank.

At least 32 people are under legal scanner by the FIA for laundering money from fictitious accounts. Zardari, however, has denied such allegations.

In July, the FIA had arrested Stock Exchange of Pakistan chairman Hussain Lawai, who is considered to be Zardari's close aide.