Asif Ali Zardari will be indicted on September 9 in the Tosha Khana reference

ISLAMABAD (17-Aug-2020) Former President and Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari appeared in person in the accountability court hearing of Tosha Khana reference in the accountability court, where the court indicted him in the case. Has set a date of September 9th. Judge Asghar Ali heard the Tosha Khana reference in the Islamabad Accountability Court, where former President Asif Ali Zardari appeared in person and was accompanied by his daughter Asifa Bhutto. He also wore a mask and face shield as a precaution against the corona virus.

Special security arrangements were made for the former president's appearance while besides him PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and others also reached the court. Other PPP leaders also reached the court where Bilawal Bhutto Instructed them to leave the courtroom. Later, when the hearing started, Barrister Tassaduq Hanif said that I am a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court but the police showed me the shield while one accused was also prevented from coming to the court. Asif Zardari's lawyer Farooq H Naik said that I I am a senior councilor and I was not allowed to enter the court. Farooq H Naik said that this is not a military court, nor is it a camera trial.

On this, the judge of the accountability court said that I also had difficulties in appearing before the court. I was also stopped at the police check post after which I came from the other way with U-turn. The judge said that there were roadblocks at 6 places. I reached the court from the rear via the motorway police office, to which the lawyers said we sympathize with you. On this, the judge of the accountability court said that he would take up the matter with the administration so that such a situation does not arise in future. Don't talk, for which the prosecutor NAB Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi gave him a shut-up call.

The lawyers said that it is being said time and time again that the case should be prosecuted, the case should be prosecuted, we are standing outside, at the same time Farooq H Naik said that if you want to prosecute the case, first you have to decide whether the lawyers are in your court. Can come. Farooq H Naik said that Asif Zardari is ill, the court is full, if he is coronated, who is responsible, the judge of accountability court asked where is Asif Zardari? Farooq H Naik said that Asif Ali Zardari court I am present, sign the attendance, which the former president came to the rostrum and signed.

During the hearing, the court granted his request to adjourn the hearing on Nawaz Sharif's case, adding that the court also adjourned the proceedings to declare him a fugitive. Now, as far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, the case will be heard on August 25. The court later decided to indict former president Asif Ali Zardari and former minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others in the Tosha Khana reference. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's lawyer Barrister Jahangir Jadoon said, "We have challenged the decision of the High Court to declare Nawaz Sharif a fugitive. The proceedings should be stayed till the decision of the Supreme Court."

After which the court fixed September 9 for indictment of Asif Zardari, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Abdul Ghani Majeed and Anwar Majeed. The court also summoned Asif Zardari and other accused on September 9. It may be recalled that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the order of the Accountability Court in the Tosha Khana reference seeking annulment of the order. According to a reference filed by the Bureau (NAB), Yousuf Raza Gilani is accused of illegally allocating vehicles to Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif.

In this reference, Omni Group chief Khawaja Anwar Majeed and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed have also been named as accused. It was alleged that Yousuf Raza Gilani facilitated Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari in this regard and illegally softened the procedure of accepting and rejecting gifts.

The reference states that Asif Zardari acquired armed vehicles from the United Arab Emirates (BMW 750 Lee Model 2005, Lexus Jeep Model (2007) and Libya (BMW 760 Lee Model 2008) in September, October 2008. According to the reference, they were obliged to report it immediately and submit it to the Cabinet Division, but they did not inform about the vehicles nor were they evacuated.

The NAB reference alleges that Nawaz Sharif did not hold any public office in 2008, yet in April-December 2008, he resorted to the Cabinet Division for his own benefit without making any request to the then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. According to the reference, Khawaja Anwar Majeed used the accounts of MS Ansari Sugar Mills Limited to open a National Bank of Awari Tower.