| References against Zardari Mandviwala adjourned
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a petition against issuance of diplomatic passport to former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif while declaring it as non-maintainable.
Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the case filed by a citizen regarding the matter. The petition adopted the stance that Nawaz Sharif was convicted and awarded imprisonment sentence in NAB reference. He had also been declared absconder due to continuous absence from court proceedings.
He prayed the court to issue directives to the concern for the arrest of the accused soon after his return. He also prayed to stop issuance of diplomatic passport to former prime minister.
The chief justice remarked that any absconder didn’t deserve for the relief if someone was proclaimed offender then the law would make its own course.
The court noted that the petitioner couldn’t produce any notification in favor of his case instead gave references of only some press clipping. The bench subsequently dismissed the case and imposed fine worth Rs5,000 against the petitioner.
Meanwhile, an Accountability Court (AC) Monday adjourned hearing till May 12, in acquittal pleas of accused in Thatha Water Supply reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari. AC-II Judge Muhammad Azam Khan heard the reference filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The court granted one-day exemption from hearing to Asif Ali Zardari on his lawyer’s request. The defence lawyers couldn’t attend the proceeding due to engagements in other courts. At this, the court adjourned the case till next date where in the cross arguments on the acquittal pleas would be made before the court.
Meanwhile, an Accountability Court (AC) on Monday adjourned hearing till May 5, in Kidney Hills reference against former deputy chairman Senate Saleem Mandviwala and others.
AC-I Judge Muhammad Bashir heard the reference lodged by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The cross examination with the prosecution witnesses couldn’t be made this day due to the absence of defence lawyers. –Agencies
