Legal team to represent Zardari in fake accounts case today

Published December 24, 2018
Former president Asif Ali Zardari's legal team will appear before Supreme Court at its Lahore registry to represent him. — File photo
Former president Asif Ali Zardari's legal team will appear before Supreme Court at its Lahore registry to represent him. — File photo

LAHORE: PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s legal team will appear before a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court hearing the fake bank accounts case here on Monday (today).

Led by Farooq H. Naek and Lateef Khosa, the team will appear before the court at its Lahore registry to represent the PPP co-chairman.

PPP deputy information secretary Chaudhry Mun­awar Anjum said Mr Zardari would not appear before the court as his legal team would represent him. He said the PPP had always respected and strengthened the judiciary and believed that they were facing politically motivated cases.

He said former president Asif Zardari had faced 17 cases in the past and was acquitted by the courts.

“The PPP believes that the Joint Investigation Team’s report has been fabricated under political influence for victimising its leaders. It is the PPP’s stance that if the report is fabricated, we will go to the people,” he said.

Mr Anjum said Prime Minis­ter Imran Khan wanted to eliminate the PPP and the Pakistan Mus­lim League-Nawaz to run opposition-free government and turn the country into One Unit and impose civil martial law. “We always fight against the non-democratic forces and will continue to do so,” he added.

Chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar will sit at the Lahore registry the entire week starting from Monday (today) after returning from Turkey and performing Umra.

A two-judge bench consisting of the chief justice and Justice Ijazul Ahsan will hear multiple independent cases, including delay in inquiries into the fake bank accounts case involving Asif Zardari, Omni group’s owners and Summit Bank vice chairman Hussain Lawai. The JIT tasked with probing the fake bank accounts case has submitted a sealed report to the court.

Other cases to be heard include the transfer of Isla­mabad inspector general of police on political grounds, illegal encroachment upon properties belong­­ing to the Hindu community in Sindh and illegal occupation of private land by PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar and MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar.

Last week, Chief Justice Nisar visited Turkey where he met President Tayyip Erdogan and attended Urs of Maulana Rumi.

Later, he went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra. Chief Justice Nisar is going to retire on Jan 17 next year.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...