Web Desk (LTN NEWS): The Islamabad High Court upheld the request of the National Accountability Bureau, dismissing appeals against the former president’s acquittal in corruption references, giving Co-chairperson Asif Zardari relief in charges brought against him 25 years ago.
The case was considered by a two-member IHC bench led by Chief Justice Athar Minallah. On behalf of the NAB, Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Khan Bharwana appeared in court. “The National Accountability Bureau’s request to drop appeals against Asif Ali Zardari’s acquittal in four cases has been granted. On the merits, the appeals are dismissed,” the court stated.
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The anti-graft watchdog had asked the court to withdraw its appeals against the accountability court’s acquittal of the PPP co-chairperson in the SGS, Cotecna, Ursus Tractors, and ARY Gold instances.
According to the NAB, only photocopies of the documents are filed against the former president. The NAB also stated in its plea that the available records do not conform to evidentiary law. It claimed that further prosecution on the appeals was difficult; thus, the court should allow the NAB to withdraw the appeals against Zardari’s acquittal to meet the needs of justice.
The ARY Gold reference and Ursus Tractors cases were brought in 2000 and 2001, respectively, and Zardari was acquitted in December 2014. This case was first developed in 1998. On November 24, 2015, Zardari was also acquitted by the accountability court in the Cotecna and SGS reference.
