Daily Times

An Accountably Court (AC) on Monday postponed the indictment of former president Asif Ali Zardari in Park Lane Reference till July 14.

The proceedings were presided over by Judge Azam Khan during which Zaradir’s counsel; Farooq Naek filed another plea to stay the indictment.

The counsel added that his client cannot be indictment unless there was ‘proper work’.

The court said that “you are filing the petition on the very day when everything is ready and the accused is to be charged.”

Naek prayed before the court that spadework has to be done. “It was necessary for the Governor SBP to give notice according to the law. Not asking the court for a month. Please allow appropriate time. I have to do research.”

Counsel representing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prayed the court that indictment must be filed within seven days of providing the reference copies.

The court told Naek to appear on July 9, to which he said that “there is a case in the Supreme Court Karachi Registry on that day.”

At the next hearing, NAB should file a reply to Asif Zardari’s miscellaneous request, the court remarked.

The former president appeared before the court through video link. Counsel Naek told him that “We have requested that no indictment can be filed.”

“What will be the process now?” Zardari’s inquired.

“Our application will be decided first, after which the court will decide to charge, “Naek replied adding that trail would commence after that.

Also, the Supreme Court has approved the bail application of former secretary land Sindh Aftab Memon for hearing and directed NAB to ensure its presence in the next hearing.

In this regard, a notification has been issued to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

NAB has filed a corruption reference against Aftab Memon in the Karachi Scheme 33 scam.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Yahya Afridi conducted hearing of the case.

The applicant Aftab Memon took stance in the court that the case is about the allotment of 30 acre land in Karachi Scheme 33. Before allotment, different committees were constituted which recommended adjustment, he briefed the court.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that the applicant had issued a letter before the government constituted committee took decision over the matter.

The applicant’s lawyer responded that there was no bad intention involved in the issuance of the letter, adding that the applicant is behind barrs for the past more than a year.

The Apex court approved the application for hearing and summoned NAB for the next hearing. The case hearing adjourned for two weeks.

Meanwhile, an accountability court here on Monday resumed hearing a reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others over alleged illegal appointments in the Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart and the former petroleum secretary named in the case turned up before the court for the hearing. The accountability judge provided them a copy of the reference and is likely to indict them in the case at next hearing.

Ex-PM Abbasi, who is also facing another NAB case related to the LNG scam, has obtained bail in this case.

Last month, the Sindh High Court had extended till Aug 27 the interim pre-arrest bail of the former prime minister and the former petroleum secretary. On May 19, the high court had granted them bail against a surety bond of Rs500,000 each.

The anti-corruption watchdog had filed a reference against ex-PM Abbasi and the then petroleum secretary for allegedly appointing Sheikh Imran-ul-Haq as managing director and Yaqoob Sattar as deputy managing director (finance) of the PSO in violation of rules and regulations.

Also, the NAB has summoned Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in the Roshan Sindh Programme case on Wednesday, July 8.

The Roshan Sindh programme case relates to the installation of solar streetlights in different districts of the province. It is one of the 28 cases that fall under the fake accounts case.

He was originally called today but had excused himself from appearing. Shah has already been issued a 28-point questionnaire in the case.

This was the second time he had been summoned in this case.

Shah has been asked why he ignored the finance secretary’s recommendations regarding the programme while he was the Sindh finance minister.

He has also been asked to comment on disclosures made by other accused who have turned approvers in the case.