Ex-Pakistan President Zardari, sister placed in exit control list

The Pakistan Interior Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the names of former President Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur had been placed in the Exit Control List (ECL) on the Supreme Court's orders.

The directives were issued to the Ministry by the apex court in connection with an ongoing suo motu case concerning an investigation into fake accounts and fictitious transactions worth billions conducted through several mainstream banks. The fake accounts were allegedly used for channelling funds received through heavy bribes and kickbacks, Dawn reported.

Seven individuals, including Zardari and Talpur, were said to be involved in using certain bank accounts for suspicious transactions totalling Rs 35 billion.

The SC had ordered the Ministry to place the names of all suspected beneficiaries - including Zardari and Talpur - and accused persons identified in the case on the ECL, "so that they may not leave the country until the investigation in the matter is concluded or till further orders passed by this court".

Caretaker Interior Ministry Azam Khan confirmed that the SC had directed the Ministry to place Zardari and Talpur's names on the ECL on Monday, and that the ministry had complied with the orders.

--IANS

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