ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday gave last chance to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for appointment of its prosecutor in its appeal against trial court’s verdict for acquitting PPP’s co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari in two references pertaining to polo ground and Ursus Tractors.

A divisional bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq conducted hearing on the NAB appeals wherein it had already sought the references record against Zardari from the accountability court which had acquitted the accused.

During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor requested the court to defer the proceedings. He added that the court may adjourn the hearing for four weeks due to the issuance of NAB amendment ordinance. At this, Justice Aamer remarked that the NAB amendment ordinance has nothing to do with these appeals. Then, the bench rejected NAB’s request of deferring the hearing for four weeks and adjourned the proceedings till December 9.  

Previously, the court had granted time to the NAB for appointment of its prosecutor in this matter after NAB prosecutor Nasir Mehmood appeared before the court and informed the bench that the record has been sent to the NAB headquarters for the appointment of prosecutor in this case. NAB had stated in its appeals that the trial court had no powers to acquit the accused in corruption case. 

The anti-graft body had challenged the acquittal of Zardari by an accountability court in two references in 2014. NAB had moved the IHC through its prosecutor general and challenged AC decision in which it had acquitted Zardari in two corruption references including polo ground and Ursus tractors corruption references.

In the application, NAB had cited Zardari as respondent and pleaded the court to declare the said verdict of AC as null and void. The NAB prosecutor had also requested the court to permit them to produce witnesses and evidences against Zardari before the court in this matter.