Faulty investigation on the part of National Accountability Bureau, as well as lack of substantial evidence and witnesses presented before the court, resulted in Asif Ali Zardari’s acquittal in the last NAB reference, the written verdict, issued late Friday, for the case says.
The written verdict reveals that conflicting statements of witnesses also weakened the prosecution’s case.
Justice Khalid Mehmood Ranjha accepted the documents requesting acquittal of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson on August 26.
Zardari’s real records of bank account and offshore companies were not presented before the court, and the prosecutor failed to prove that the assets belonged to the former president, the verdict says.
On Saturday, after the verdict was announced, Zardari’s lawyer Farooq Hamid Naek told a private news channel that the reference against his client was filed in 1998 under sections of Accountability Act 1997, adding that the reference alleged that Zardari had created illegal assets.
He further said the reference against the former president was filed by former NAB chairman Saif-ur-Rehman on Nawaz Sharif’s request and added that the accountability body failed to provide any evidence in the case.
“NAB’s investigating officer accepted that Asif Ali Zardari had no share in the sugar mills,” Zardari’s legal counsel said.
Zardari has been acquitted in eight corruption references. Six cases were filed during Nawaz’s tenure while two were filed during Pervez Musharraf’s tenure.
After the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was passed, all references against Zardari had ceased to exist. Once the NRO was revoked, Zardari had immunity as the president of Pakistan.
Another trial then commenced against Zardari when his presidential immunity ended.
So JIT was only for PMLN? Everyone knows PPP and PMLN have men in key NAB positions. There can be no justice until clean dept can proceed. I hope SC will reconsider and opt for another JIT for ppp once PMLNs corruption is brought to public.
JIT was formed after sincere efforts and case persuing of Imran Khan. If PML can persue the case and they are sincere in convicting zardari then JIT will be formed.
When Zirdari and Nawaz Sharif appoints NAB’s head, he faithful does what he is supposed to do, protect the people who appointed him. People want supreme court to hold the corrupt accountable, it the same people who elect PML-N and PPP thugs and thieves.in the first place.
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