NAB prosecutor completes arguments

ISLAMABAD: Prosecutor National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chuadhry Riaz Ahmad completed his arguments in reference to the SGS pre-shipment inspection case involving President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.

Ahmad said that the statements of three witnesses against the accused, AR Siddiqui, had yet to be recorded. This will be done in the next hearing on October 4. The proceedings took place in front of Judge Wamiq Javed of Accountability Court No 2. Syed Ishtiaq Haider is counsel for the accused former CBR chairman. He asked the court to exempt Siddiqui from having to appear in person but the request was denied. Siddiqui allegedly took six per cent of the total pre-shipment revenue.

Accountability Courts of NAB are currently hearing five references involving the president. One of them pertains to receiving commission in the Ursus tractors deal. Another case relates to the polo ground at the prime minister’s house. The third case relates to ARY Gold. Another is the SGS Cotecna case. President Zardari is also the only accused in the assets-beyond-means case.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2010.