ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday extended pre-arrest bail to former president and co-chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari in a case related to a call-up notice issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) asking details of his alleged ownership of an apartment in New York. 

A division bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing of the case and extended pre-arrest bail to Zardari till November 9. During the hearing, the IHC bench sought opinion from defense lawyer Farooq H. Naek and National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s prosecutor regarding the new amendment in NAB Ordinance.

The bench asked that whether the bail cases would be shifted to the special courts after the promulgation of fresh ordinance. The prosecutor replied that all bail cases should be dismissed after the introduction of new law. The court instructed the prosecutor to study the new ordinance and also brief the NAB investigation officer about it.

Justice Aamer asked that whether the powers of NAB for arresting accused were withdrawn. To this, Naek answered that the new amendments had increased the powers of anti-graft body. He added that now the names of the accused would be placed on exit control list (ECL). He further said that it would be seen later if the ordinance got approval from Parliament or not. The IHC Chief Justice said that the system would streamline when the Parliament would be strengthened more. Naek said that the parliamentary committees had no powers. Then, the court granted one day exemption from hearing to the accused Zardari on medical grounds and deferred the hearing of the case till November 9 for further proceedings.