ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought the record of appeals made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s against former president Asif Ali Zardari’s acquittal.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb was hearing the case.
It is pertinent to mention here that the accountability bureau has challenged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman’s exoneration in the polo ground and Ursus tractors cases.
“The court had sought the required record on April 21, 2016. However, no record has been presented till today,” NAB prosecutor Jehanzeb Bharwana argued.
“Asif Zardari was given a benefit of the NRO, which was later declared null and void by the Supreme Court. By that time, Zardari was the president. In 2014, his acquittal was challenged. An acquittal reference cannot be entertained without recording the evidence,” he added.
“Then why did the accountability court hear the acquittal reference,” Justice Minallah inquired.
“The accountability court maintained that to conduct the trial would be a waste of time,” he was told by the NAB prosecutor.
“Why did the court make such a statement,” Justice Minallah asked in his reply.
Bharwana requested more time in the reference against Zardari. In response, the court granted him three years after which the hearing was adjourned by the IHC for an indefinite period.
Further, the court, while seeking details in the Ursus tractors cases against Zardari, also adjourned that case for an indefinite period whereas, the accountability watchdog’s polo ground reference could not be heard on Thursday.
