Summary The court adjourned the hearing of NAB references against Zardari till January 18.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The accountability court heard the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) references levelled against former president Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari appeared before accountability court amid tight security.
A judge of accountability court Muhammad Bashir heard the case pertaining to the five references against Zardari.
During the course of proceedings, Farooq H Naek, counsel for Zardari,submityted a plea, stating that all accused in polo ground had been acquitted while pleaded the court to end charges against his client.
Addressing the media, Farooq said his client had security threats, adding that Zardari hadn’t been indicted as yet.
Farooq told the media that a debate would be held over indictment during the next hearing, emphasizing that no charge has been framed against Zardari.
The court adjourned the hearing till January 18, he added.
Strict security measures were taken to ensure foolproof security for PPP co-chairperson.
Addressing the media, former interior minister Rehman Malik said that PPP has always respected court orders.
Asif Ali Zardari was summoned in court on at least five corruption references filed by NAB. The references against Zardari include polo ground, SGS, Cotecna, ARY and Ursus tractors. The court had already acquitted other accused in these references.
The accountability court took a suo motu action and reopened five references against Zardari in October, 2013. Earlier, the references were deferred because he enjoyed constitutional immunity during his tenure as President of Pakistan.
Polo ground reference is build upon the construction of a polo ground in PM house. The NAB had declared it illegal and in violation of rights afforded to him.
Zardari had last appeared before court in 2004 after which he got bail and went abroad.
