Zardari pursues court for presidential immunity

President Asif Ali Zardari filed on Thursday an application in an accountability court in Islamabad seeking presidential immunity in the Thatta Water Supply reference.

The case was heard by judge Nasir Javed Rana.

During the hearing, Zardari’s counsel maintained that his client enjoyed presidential immunity, therefore, proceedings against him could not be carried out.

The court while issuing notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) sought arguments, and adjourned the hearing of the case until April 22.

Read President claims immunity in Park Lane reference

The other accused in the case include former secretary Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Ali Akbar, Ejaz Memon, Ali Akbar Abro, Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, Manahal Majeed, Abdul Nadeem Bhutto and others.

The water supply reference pertains to an alleged illegal award of a contract for the water supply scheme in Thatta to a private contractor.

In January 2023, an accountability court returned a corruption reference against Zardari after amendments to the NAB law. Earlier, he had also secured presidential immunity in the Park Lane reference case.

The Park Lane case accused Zardari of influencing relevant authorities during his tenure as the president – from 2008 to 2013 – to obtain loans for his front companies.

Zardari allegedly received a loan of Rs1.5 billion released for Parthenon Private Limited “with ill intention”, and the money was later transferred for his personal use through fake bank accounts.

The anti-graft buster accused him of causing a loss of Rs3.77 billion to the national exchequer.