November 16, 2001	Friday	Shaba'an 29, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: The supreme court on Thursday reserved its judgment on the petition of Asif Ali Zardari, demanding that his cases be shifted from Attock to Rawalpindi, and the order of shifting him to Karachi, after three months stay in Islamabad, should be reviewed to make it meaningful.

The SC bench comprising Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmed Justice Mian Muhammad Ajmal and Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah, after hearing Raja Mohammad Anwar, Farooq H. Naek, counsel for the petitioner and Raja Mohammad Bashir, prosecutor-general accountability, reserved the judgment.

In the review petition, Asif Ali Zardari asked the apex court to review its earlier judgment wherein it was held that he would be kept in Rawalpindi for three months, and if his cases in Rawalpindi were not concluded in that period he would be shifted to Karachi for appearing in case there.

The petitioner stated that due to a typical mistake it was inserted in the order that even a delay of few days caused due to omission on the part of petitioner or somebody on his behalf, the restriction of three months would not be applicable. He stated the sentence gave omnibus powers to the State not to shift him to Karachi from Rawalpindi for his appearance in cases over there.

Prosecutor-general National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Raja Bashir, submitted before court that the delay in the cases of Asif Ali Zardari was on the part of his counsels who continue to seek adjournments and do not appear before the court often.

Raja Bashir said that the NAB has received documents from foreign countries about Mr Zardari owning property. He further submitted that there were only two cases where Asif Zardari was a single accused, and in other cases Benazir Bhutto, some others, and some foreigners, are involved.