ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson and former president Asif Ali Zardari claimed that his party will form the next government in the country.
Speaking to journalists after appearing before an accountability court, Zardari said the “next turn” to form a government in the country will be of the PPP.
Responding to a question about the duration of the accountability process, Zardari said, “The process will continue till the economy does not come down further.” He refused to answer a question on who shall be the next DG ISI.
Earlier, an accountability court in Islamabad reserved a verdict on the admissibility of an application of former president seeking his acquittal in Rs8.3 billion suspicious transactions case.
The PPP co-chairman moved the acquittal plea on the basis of the recent amendments made to the accountability law. During the proceeding, his counsel Farooq H. Naek argued that Zardari could not be indicted in the case after the new NAB ordinance.
The counsel stated before the court that his client cannot be indicted in the case after the promulgation of the National Accountability (NAO) Ordinance, 2021. He contended that no case is made out against Zardari after the new law, pleading with the judge to acquit him.
READ MORE: NAB has so far recovered Rs33bn in Zardari fake accounts case: Fawad
Zardari’s counsel said that an allegation relating to Rs150 million worth of registered sale deeds has been leveled against his client the amount was paid through bank cheques.
He said that the bank cheques did not belong to Asif Ali Zardari. The lawyer pleaded with the court to issue a notice to NAB and seek its reply and said he would give his arguments on it.
After hearing arguments, the judge reserved the verdict on the maintainability of the plea. The court will also decide whether or not to frame charges on the former president.
According to the reference, former president Asif Ali Zardari is accused of carrying out transactions worth over Rs8 billion using fake accounts. The amount was deposited by Mushtaq Ahmed in a fake account which was later used to purchase properties in a posh locality of Karachi.
Mushtaq Ahmed served as a stenographer at President House from 2009 till 2013. He has been declared as a fugitive in the case due to his perpetual absence from the proceedings.
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