Hearing of cases against Pakistan ex-president Zardari begins

Eurasia News

ISLAMABAD: Former President Asif Ali Zardari will likely be indicted in polo ground reference case on December 2, 2013 as an accountability court on Tuesday began hearing five corruption cases against him.

Zardari completed his five-year term on September 8, becoming the first democratically-elected president in the 66-year history of Pakistan. During his tenure as head of the state, Zardari enjoyed immunity, therefore, the hearing of these cases could not be held again in any court.

The cases which were reopened by the National Accountability Bureau include: ARY Gold reference, SGS-cotecna, polo ground reference, Ursus tractors case and asset case.

During today’s hearing, Farooq H Naik, the counsel for Zardari, informed the court that his client could not appear before the court as he was currently in Dubai.

However, he assured the court that the former president would appear in court for the next hearing of the case.

The court issued a notice summoning former president and also ordered to produce prosecutor’s witnesses in next hearing of the case.