ISLAMABAD - Former President Asif Ali Zardari appeared before a Accountability Court of Islamabad yesterday in a fresh reference regarding purchase of properties through dubious transactions of Rs 8 billion filed against him and his stenographer Mushtaq Ahmed.  The said reference is the fifth one filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Zardari in the row as he was already facing Park Lane properties reference, Harish and Company case regarding award of fictitious contracts worth Rs 1 billion, a reference about dubious transaction of Rs 14 billion through fake bank accounts and Toshakhana Reference. The NAB had initiated investigation into 43 cases involving use of fake bank accounts on the directions of the Supreme Court but filed only 13 references so far.  Asif Ali Zardari is indicted in 5 references out of these 13 references.  Judge Accountability Court Syed Asghar Ali heard the case on Tuesday in which Asif Ali Zardari appeared while his co-accused Mushtaq Ahmed remained absent from the proceedings.  The court expressed its displeasure over the absence of Mushtaq and directed the Investigating Officer to serve notices on his residences located at Shikarpur and Karachi. The NAB officials informed the court that the said accused has escaped from the country. Meanwhile, NAB prosecutor Waseem Javed and defence counsels Farooq H. Naek and Sardar Latif Khosa appeared before the court.  Farooq H. Naek informed the court that Asif Ali Zardari has got bail in the case from Islamabad High Court.