Daily Times

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday termed new election a solution to all problems of the country, stressing that the time had come for politicians from the younger generation to lead the opposition while the veterans would “sit back and take rest”.

Talking to the media after filing a pre-arrest bail in the fake bank accounts case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the former president said, “In my view, it’s the time for the new generation. Only Bilawal, Asfandyar Wali’s son [Aimal Wali Khan], Nawaz Sharif’s daughter [Maryam Nawaz] can lead the opposition. All the old politicians will sit back and rest.” When asked if the new alliance of the opposition parties would be strong enough, because it was not the case in the last nine months, Zardari said the opposition had not given the proposal a thought during that period. “It’s just the beginning… keep looking forward,” he said of the Iftar dinner hosted by the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday, which was attended by all major opposition leaders, including Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). When his comment were sought over Maryam Nawaz’s remarks of “fake prime minister” for Imran Khan, the former president said that his party had been describing him as a “selected prime minister” from the beginning.

To a question, he said he had no intention of boycotting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) proceedings against him. “We won’t boycott NAB… we will wear it out. If we boycott, it will be said that we aren’t respecting the law,” he said. The former president appeared unperturbed by his bashing by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, particularly the critical remarks from Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan. “May God have mercy upon those who talk against me. There is no tax on talking.”

Responding to another question about Nawaz Sharif, he said that health of the former prime minister was deteriorating. “I will meet him, if necessary, and if he asked, we have to lodge a sit-in … we will be bringing our containers.” Earlier, Zardari filed yet another pre-arrest bail plea in the Islamabad High Court fearing arrest. In the petition, the former president accused the anti-graft watchdog of sending a “call-up notice” with “mala fide intentions and ulterior motives to detain and arrest” him.

He had received interim bail in seven call-up notices so far. This is his eighth petition. The notice in question pertains to payments worth Rs 17 million made in May-June 2015 from illegal proceeds of money have been credited into the accounts of Abdul Nadeem Bhutto, Omni Aviation, Princely Jett and Fazal e Rabbi (Pvt) Ltd. The payments were portrayed as expenses incurred for the Naudero House. Zardari sought bail before arrest till final conclusion of the trial. He again sought a list of all cases the bureau was filing against him.

Meanwhile, Zardari and Faryal Talpur appeared before an accountability court in the fake bank accounts case. Accountability court judge Arshad Malik heard the case against the duo and other accused in the reference. Hussain Lawai and Talha Raza were also presented before the court, while other accused, Anwar Majeed and Ghani Majeed did not show up. At the outset of the hearing, an exemption plea was filed by Abdul Ghani Majeed through his counsel over worsening health issues.

Farooq H Naek raised reservation over presenting Hussain Lawai in the court in handcuffs and said it was against the law. Later, his handcuffs were removed on the orders of the judge. The NAB prosecutor opposed their bail pleas and said the case had been transferred to them by the FIA, and investigation was underway. Meanwhile, the IHC granted bail to Zardari in the Harish and Company case. An IHC bench of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani approved the bail until June 13 against a surety bond of Rs 200,000. After preliminary hearing, the bench directed the former president to furnish a surety of Rs 500,000 to secure the bail. However, Zardari’s lawyer requested the judge to reduce the bail amount to Rs 200,000.