LAHORE: Former President Asif Ali Zardari’s lawyers were expected to appear before the Supreme Court on Monday as part of a fake account and money laundering case.
Legal counsels Farooq H Naik and Sardar Lateef Khosa will testify before a three-judge bench — representing the apex court’s Lahore registry – headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, on behalf of Zardari who is also the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-Chairperson.
On Sunday, advocate Khosa said that while he couldn’t comment on what is expected to happen but, based on standard operating procedure, the court will hand over the Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) report and set the next hearing date.
On Friday, a banking court extended the interim bail for Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, until January 7 in the ongoing money laundering case.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said it is questioning 32 people for money laundering from fictitious accounts. These including Zardari, Talpur, Omni group’s owners, and Summit Bank vice chairman Hussain Lawai. In July this year, Lawai was arrested in connection with the probe.
Omni Group’s chairman, Anwar Majeed — another close aide of Zardari — and his son, Abdul Ghani were arrested by the FIA in August.
The JIT is investigating the fake accounts as part of a legal course of action against approximately 415 key individuals and 172 entities allegedly involved in transactions of approximately Rs220 billion via 104 fake accounts. The case started after multiple unidentified accounts were opened at private banks wherefrom transactions worth billions of rupees were made.
PPP Deputy Information Secretary, Chaudhry Munawar Anjum, said that the PPP has always respected and strengthened the judiciary and believed that they were being framed in politically-motivated cases.
“Former president Asif Ali Zardari faced 17 cases in the past and was acquitted by the courts,” he said, adding that the “PPP believes that the JIT report has been fabricated under the political influence to victimize its leaders. If the report is fabricated, we will go to the people”.
Anjum added that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to eliminate the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to run an opposition-free government, turn the country into one unit, and impose civil martial law. “We always fight against non-democratic forces and will continue to do so,” he said.
Zardari’s lawyers to appear before SC in fake accounts case
Zardari’s lawyers to appear before SC in fake accounts case
- Top court expected to hand over investigation’s findings to former president’s legal team
- PPP official says move part of PM Khan’s plan to run an opposition-free government
Pakistan’s PIA enters into cargo deal with Air France-KLM to boost exports
- As per agreement, PIA’s freight division will gain access to Air France-KLM’s network of European, American cities
- Exporters will be able to use both PIA, Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, says Pakistani airline
KARACHI: The recently privatized Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a cargo agreement with global aviation group Air France-KLM to expand its global outreach and push Pakistani exports to more international markets.
The PIA said its agreement with Air France-KLM came into force on Jan. 15. Air France-KLM operates in 320 destinations and is a global aviation player in passenger, cargo and maintenance businesses.
As per the agreement, PIA Cargo, the airline’s freight division, will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network. Through the deal, PIA Cargo will gain access to Air France–KLM’s global network via Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam.
Air France-KLM’s network includes major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, and New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles, the PIA said.
“Significant improvement is expected in the exports of Pakistani products and access to global markets,” the PIA said in a statement.
Exporters will be able to use both the PIA’s and Air France–KLM’s networks under a single air waybill, the airline said.
An air waybill is a document used in international air shipping that serves as a legal, non-negotiable contract between the shipper and the airline.
In November 2025, PIA and Biman Bangladesh Airlines signed a Cargo Interline Special Agreement to expand cargo business and augment bilateral trade. The partnership aims to minimize logistical complexities in transporting commodities.
The PIA was Pakistan’s national flag carrier until a Pakistani consortium, led by the Arif Habib Group, secured a 75 percent stake in the airline in December for Rs135 billion ($482 million). Pakistan had previously attempted to reform the debt-ridden airline, which had accumulated more than $2.8 billion in financial losses over the years.
PIA’s new owner Arif Habib announced last week that the airline is in talks with aerospace manufacturers Boeing and Airbus as it plans to revamp service and expand its current fleet.
The PIA has said it plans to increase the airline’s fleet to 64 aircraft from the current figure of 19 over the next eight years.
