-Wants security to disperse possible protests of PPP’s supporters
-Zardari, Faryal arrives from Karachi
-Party directs supporters to reach Court
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approached Islamabad police and administration for providing adequate security during the hearing of the former President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Zardari before accountability court on August 17.
According to details, the NAB Rawalpindi has written a letter to the chief commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad for providing security during the hearing of the former president. The security was sought after Asif Ali Zardari decided to appear before the accountability court in Toshakhana case as the party prepares to put up a power show during the hearing.
Asif Ali Zardari and his sister and PPP woman wing leader Faryal Talpur reached Islamabad from Karachi on Sunday to attend the accountability court hearing in Toshakhana case on August 17. The party has directed its lawmakers and members of the PPP lawyers forum to reach the court in Islamabad on August 17, they said.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Former president Asif Ali Zardari has decided to appear before the accountability court in Toshakhana case.
An accountability court has summoned the former president to appear before it on August 17 (Monday).
Zardari has decided to appear before the court on Monday.
According to sources, Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur will reach Islamabad from Karachi tomorrow as the People’s Party has decided to show its political muscle during hearing of the case.
The party leadership has directed its members of the Parliament and People’s Lawyers Forum to reach Islamabad on August 17.
The court has issued warrants for Zardari in Toshakhana accountability reference. Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has been granted exemption from appearance in hearing of the reference.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday challenged his summoning by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Toshakhana reference in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Toshakhana reference
The NAB had filed a reference with the accountability court against the former heads of the state and governments for not depositing luxury vehicles and valuable gifts received from the foreign leaders in the treasury.
Zardari had received expensive cars as a gift from Libya and the UAE as president but did not deposit it in the Tosha Khana, the sources added.
The reference states that Zardari and Sharif obtained cars from Toshakhana by paying 15 per cent of the price of the cars. The bureau further alleged that Gilani facilitated Zardari and Nawaz in this regard.
