ISLAMABAD - National Accountability Bureau has finally submitted a report regarding search of missing documents of SGS and Cotecna references against Asif Ali Zardari in accountability court, wherein it was submitted that the original record of these cases must be with the court and the same should be searched in the court’s record room.
On Thursday, Muhammad Basheer judge of Accountability court resumed the hearing of SGS and Cotenca references. Farooq H Naek, counsel of former president Asif Ali Zardari, was present while Chaudary Riaz, Additional Deputy Prosecutor represented NAB.
The special judge sought report from NAB prosecutor upon missing document of original file of both the cases, but Chaudry Riaz once again sought more time for search of the missing documents.
Finally, judge directed NAB’s prosecutor to submit report in the court right now. Ch. Riaz once again contacted NAB authorities for searching and filing of report regarding missing files.
According to the report submitted by the prosecutor Chaudhry Riaz, NAB did not have original file of SGS and Cotecna. But it might be in the record room of this court.
In this report, court was also informed that the original file of SGS and Cotecna was produced in Ehtesab bench led by Justice Malik Qayyum in 1998 and being a successor of Ehtasab bench the original file of both cases should be in the record room of this Accountability Court.
NAB also requested the court to direct registrar Accountability Court for producing original file of SGS.
Earlier Farooq H Naek, Counsel for Asif Zardari, completed his argument on acquittal petition. He while giving arguments on acquittal application said that NAB had no original file of these two references and was prosecuting these cases before the court only on photocopies.
He said that these cases were 17-year-old and NAB wanted to linger them on. He said that 16 witnesses of prosecution had appeared before the court in these cases and not even a single of these witnesses had leveled any charge against his client. NAB Spokesman Nawazish Ali refused to comment on the issue, saying the matter is sub judice.