-Case hearing set on 17th, Zardari to face AC along sister Faryal
-Wants supports to avoid congregation during proceedings, confirms Rabbani
From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari has decided to appear before the accountability court in Toshakhana case as the party prepares to put up a power show during the hearing.
It is pertinent to mention here that an accountability court of Islamabad on June 30 issued bailable arrest warrants against former president Asif Ali Zardari over an accusation of receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana.
Asif Ali Zardari and his sister and PPP woman wing leader Faryal Talpur would reach Islamabad from Karachi on Sunday (tomorrow) to attend the accountability court hearing in Toshakhana case on August 17.
According to sources, the party has directed its lawmakers and members of the PPP lawyers forum to reach the court in Islamabad on August 17.
Meanwhile, speaking to media after the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting headed by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto, Senator Raza Rabbani said that they had asked the court to exempt Asif Zardari from personal appearances during the proceedings and record his statement via a video link, however, it was not accepted.
He said that Asif Zardari has decided to appear before the court during today’s meeting and said that it was not a new thing for him.
“Asif Zardari wants activists to avoid congregation during the proceedings,” Raza Rabbani said and lamented the use of NAB against political opponents. He said that the remarks of the apex court has exposed the accountability watchdog.
The PPP meeting also mulled over the remarks of the attorney general before the apex court regarding Karachi and Raza Rabbani while rejecting any such proposal from the federal government said that the Sindh government was solely responsible for resolving the issues of the city. “Karachi is part of the Sindh province and will remain so,” he said.
Earlier, an accountability court of Islamabad on Tuesday issued bailable arrest warrants against former president Asif Ali Zardari and started the process of declaring former premier Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender in a reference accusing them and ex-PM Yousuf Raza Gillani of receiving luxury vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana.
A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor submitted a compliance report to Accountability Judge Asghar Ali stating that the bureau forwarded arrest warrants against Sharif, who is in London, through the Foreign Office.
Observing that the PML-N supreme leader is not joining the trial proceedings intentionally, the judge issued directives for starting the process of declaring him a proclaimed offender over perpetual absence from the hearing.
Senator Farooq H Naek, who represented the PPP co-chairman, moved an application on behalf of his client requesting the court to grant him exemption from personal appearance in today’s hearing due to the coronavirus fears.
He said Zardari, being a senior citizen, can’t turn up because of the pandemic. This is a criminal case as Asif Zardari will have to show up, the judge observed, asking if the former president was diagnosed with the disease.
The counsel replied that people will gather on the court premises because of the PPP leader’s appearance, putting not only themselves but him at potential risk of catching the contagion.
Prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar said it is up to the administration to prevent people from gathering, requesting the judge to not extend any concession to the former president and demanding his arrest warrants.
He said the court gave Yousuf Raza Gillani exemption from personal appearance, due to which his counsel has not even turned up before the court, pleading with the court to withdraw the exemption granted to him. Farooq H Naek argued that the court can issue warrants in case Zardari doesn’t appear, assuring he will show up on next hearing.
