President Asif Ali Zardari.-Reuters

RAWALPINDI: In its decision on the Cotecna reference case, an accountability court on Friday acquitted the only person arrested in the case, DawnNews reported.

The court released the former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman A. R. Siddiqui due to insufficient evidence.

The court also decided that no action could be taken against President Asif Ali Zardari due to presidential immunity.

In the Cotecna case, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari were accused of taking six per cent of the total pre-shipment revenue for awarding the $131m contract.

Benazir Bhutto’s name was removed from the case after her assassination in December 27, 2007.

Begum Nusrat Bhutto, also linked to the case, has been unable to partake in the proceedings due to her illness.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...