Court grants Zardari permanent exemption from court appearance

The accountability court has granted Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari permanent exemption from appearing before court.The counsel for Zardari, Farooq H Naek said that his client was facing security threats and he should be granted exemption from court appearance.Farooq H Naek will be pleading the case of Zardari.Earlier, the accountability court had reserved its decision over former president Asif Ali Zardari’s plea seeking exemption from appearing before the court.Another application seeking acquittal of Zardari in all NAB references was also filed in court.Farooq said none of the references had evidences against Zardari, therefore, he should be acquitted.During the last hearing, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari appeared before accountability court amid tight security.Farooq H Naek, counsel for Zardari,submityted a plea, stating that all accused in polo ground had been acquitted while pleaded the court to end charges against his client.Asif Ali Zardari was summoned in court on at least five corruption references filed by NAB. The references against Zardari include polo ground, SGS, Cotecna, ARY and Ursus tractors. The court had already acquitted other accused in these references.The accountability court took a suo motu action and reopened five references against Zardari in October, 2013. Earlier, the references were deferred because he enjoyed constitutional immunity during his tenure as President of Pakistan.Polo ground reference is build upon the construction of a polo ground in PM house. The NAB had declared it illegal and in violation of rights afforded to him. 

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