NAB seeks respite to argue on appeals against Zardari’s acquittal

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has once again sought respite for arguments on the appeals against the acquittal of former president Asif Ali Zardari in four 25-year-old references.

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan heard the anti-graft body’s appeals against the acquittal of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman in the SGS-Cotecna, ARY Gold, and Ursus Tractors references.

The anti-corruption body, despite being given a deadline by the court at the last hearing, once again sought the adjournment on its appeals pending from 2014 and 2015.

CJ Minallah asked the NAB prosecutor if he had seen the order dated November 15, 2021. To this, the latter said that one of the issues was that the prosecutors were not available in the two appeals, pointing out that one of them was no longer in service and the other had been transferred to Sukkur.

“Are you interested in pursuing these appeals?” the CJ asked.

The prosecutor said that they wanted to follow up on the appeals.

CJ Minallah once again asked if he had read the verdict, saying that if they had read it, they probably would not have filed an appeal.

He added that one last chance is being given, otherwise it will be assumed that NAB is not serious in handling the appeals.

The case was then adjourned till June 13.