Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: AFP
A division bench comprising Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and Justice Aamer Farooq directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials to submit complete records.
NAB authorities approached the IHC challenging the accountability court’s acquittal of the ex-president in two corruption cases — ARY Gold and Ursus tractors.
In the tractors case, there was alleged misappropriation or embezzlement in the purchase of 5,900 tractors from the Polish company at a cost of Rs150, 000 each.
The scheme was launched by the second Pakistan People’s Party government.
The ARY reference relates to the alleged illegal grant of licences to ARY traders for the import of silver and gold. The move reportedly cost the exchequer nearly Rs18.2 million.
In the application, NAB had made Zardari respondent and pleaded to the court to nullify accountability court verdict.
During the hearing, NAB prosecutor Chaudhary Riaz said Zardari was acquitted because witnesses did not appear and some evidence could not be produced before the court.
He added that witnesses including NAB’s ex-deputy chairman Hassan Waseem Afzal did not appear, despite several notices.
To this, Justice Qureshi remarked NAB had the chance to produce witnesses and evidence during the trial, adding non-bailable warrants should have been sought against those who refused to testify.
Following the hearing, the court adjourned the case for two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2015.
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