Daily Times

An accountability court on Tuesday adjourned hearing into fake bank accounts and Park Lane Estate Company cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur and other accused till March 3.

The former president skipped Tuesday’s court appearance owing to his health issues, while Faryal Talpur and other co-accused appeared before the court.

Asif Zardari’s counsel, Farooq H Naek apprised the court that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has not provided them the copies of the references, filed against his client.

The court after ordered the NAB to provide the copies of the references to the accused, adjourned the hearing of the case till March 3.

Talking to the news men outside the court, Farooq H Naek said his client, Asif Ali Zardari is critically ill and the doctors have advised him against the travelling.

Meanwhile, an accountability court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of Paragon City reference against former railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique till Feb 24.

Accountability court judge Jawad ul Hassan conducted the proceedings. Khawaja Salman Rafique was produced before the court. In the hearing, the court issued an arrest warrant for Qaiser Amin Butt, the director of Paragon Housing Society and the primary accused person in the Paragon City Housing reference. The accountability court judge ordered to arrest Qaiser Butt and produce him before the court in the next hearing. PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique could not be produced before court due to the National Assembly session in Islamabad. In the previous hearing, the court extended the judicial remand of former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique in Paragon Housing Society scam till February 11.

PML-N stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique were produced before the accountability court in Lahore. “Who is the complainant of the Paragon Society,” the judge asked the NAB lawyer during the hearing.

“The investigation officer and the lawyer have failed to convince the court, what you say, the court summon the NAB chairman or acquit the accused,” the judge asked.