ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan set up a six-member joint investigation team (JIT) on Thursday to probe a mega corruption scandal allegedly involving former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and their associates.
The JIT was constituted on the request of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is currently probing fake bank accounts which were allegedly used to launder billions of rupees.
FIA officials suspect that the former president and his sister, among others, benefited from transactions made using these bank accounts.
This is the second JIT of its kind in Pakistan to probe top politicians for money laundering and embezzlement. The first one was formed to probe former premier Nawaz Sharif and his family for making assets beyond their stated means of income.
Sharif is now serving a 10-year prison sentence along with his daughter, Maryam, and son-in-law, Captain Safdar.
The Supreme Court’s decision to form the JIT, headed by Assistant Director-General Ehsan Sadiq, is likely to have political repercussions in the coming weeks and months, as Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party is the third largest political party in the National Assembly and is also in power in the province of Sindh.
Supreme Court forms team to probe mega corruption case
Supreme Court forms team to probe mega corruption case
- Pakistan’s former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are named in the case
- This is the second time the apex court has established a JIT against politicians
Pakistan police say two militants killed during gunbattle in northwest
- Police say Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants ambushed police vehicle on patrol in northwestern Bannu district
- Pakistan has frequently blamed neighboring Afghanistan for facilitating what it calls “cross-border attacks” against it
ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s Bannu district said on Monday it thwarted an ambush and killed two militants during a fierce gunbattle, as Islamabad grapples with a surge in militant attacks in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
A police vehicle came under attack from militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistani Taliban group within the jurisdiction of the Domel Police Station in Bannu, a statement from police said.
The police van was on patrol when TTP militants, who were lying in wait near the district’s Company Road, suddenly opened indiscriminate firing on the police party. Following the attack, both sides traded fire for approximately 20 minutes.
“During the exchange of fire, two militants were killed and weapons were recovered from their possession,” the statement said.
Police launched a search operation in the area after the gunfire ended, during which the bodies of the two militants were recovered. The bodies were shifted to the Khaleefa Gul Nawaz (KGN) Hospital in the area for legal formalities.
Bannu Deputy Inspector General Sajjad Khan praised police for its unwavering commitment in saving people’s lives and for “standing firm against terrorism at all costs.”
“He said operations against elements of Fitna Al-Khawarij will continue under a zero-tolerance policy and those attempting to disrupt peace and order will not be spared under any circumstances,” the police statement said.
Pakistan’s government and army frequently use the term “Fitna Al-Khawarij” to describe TTP militants. The term is drawn from Islamic history for an extremist sect that rebelled against authority and declared other Muslims apostates.
The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against law enforcement agencies since 2008 in a bid to impose its strict version of Islamic law across Pakistan.
Bannu has also seen several militant attacks in the recent past, with four members of a pro-government peace committee killed by militants in the district earlier this month. In 2025, Bannu police said it recorded 134 attacks on police stations, checkpoints and those targeting its personnel. At least 27 police officers were killed, while authorities say 53 militants died in the clashes.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused neighboring Afghanistan of allowing its soil to be used by armed groups such as the TTP for “cross-border attacks.” It has also alleged that India supports militant groups carrying out attacks against Pakistan. Both Kabul and New Delhi have denied these claims.
