–Former president seeks another date, says he has busy schedule
ISLAMABAD: Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday excused himself from appearing before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the ongoing investigation into the fake bank accounts case owing to his “busy schedule”.
Meanwhile, the former president wrote a letter to NAB, stating that he could not appear before the bureau due to his busy schedule, asking for another date for the hearing.
The bureau had summoned him in an inquiry pertaining to illegal allotment of land by the Sindh government and misuse of powers.
The development came in the backdrop of an alleged interview by NAB chief Javed Iqbal, which had attracted flak from the opposition leaders. Zardari had said that the opposition would take action against Justice (r) Iqbal for violating his constitutional powers.
“The NAB chairman’s post does not allow him to give interviews and PPP will take action against him,” he had said.
On May 15, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted him and his sister Faryal Talpur in all of the cases against them. The high court granted Zardari interim bail in the money laundering case until May 29.
Earlier on May 9, the NAB had summoned him to record his statement in the same case; however, the former president excused himself from appearing before the combined investigation team (CIT) of the Rawalpindi NAB, seeking another date on the grounds that he was scheduled to appear before the accountability court on the same day.
The NAB has already filed references in money laundering through fake bank accounts, Pink Residency and illegal award of water supply schemes against him.
On April 13, Zardari had submitted his written response to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on 54 questions in connection with three cases against him, including Park Lane Estate, Pink Residency, and fake accounts and money laundering.
Earlier, the case was being heard in a banking court in Karachi but had been shifted to an accountability court in Islamabad upon an appeal by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).