March 2, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 17, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, March 1: The former PPP senator, Asif Zardari has moved an application before an accountability court seeking permission to call his parents, in Karachi from his hospital room at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad (Pims).

Mr Zardari, who had already spent over six years of continues imprisonment without any conviction in more than dozens corruption cases, has sought permission for talking to his parents on phone, thrice a week.

The judge of the accountability court Syed Sakhi Hussain Bukhari assured that orders on his application would be passed by the court on Saturday.

Earlier the panel of counsel led by Farooq Naik advocate had moved a similar application before the accountability court No 1 of Judge Rustam Ali Malik for allowing him to talk to his wife and children in Dubai. The application had been upheld by the court.

Outside the court a group of newsmen, who approached Mr Zardari for a chat found him in good humour sans any sign of frustration or sickness.

Attired in a well tailored and well pressed green suit, he appeared fresh and in an up-beat mood. Cutting jokes with his counsel and visitors mostly party workers and leaders, he was laughing heartily.

“The general has ordered his team of constitutional tailors to stitch a coat which would fit him,” Mr Zardari remarked over the constitutional reforms being contemplated by the government.

“Only God has absolute power, every mortal has a graph which goes up and down,” he remarked and instantly alluded to his hey days in powers.

“Look, once we were all powerful rulers, with our own president, chief justice, chief ministers and governors in all the four provinces,” he added.

Mr Zardari said in a very firm tone that Benazir Bhutto would definitely return to contest the next elections. However, he gave no confirm date or deliberately did not disclose it to the press.

The former senator was fully alive to recent political events and developments. “We have not done it, agencies might be behind it,” he replied when asked about the attack allegedly by PPP workers on the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (QA) in Larkana on Thursday.

He also expressed shock over the sectarian killings in Rawalpindi and said that the government should own its responsibility.

Agencies add: An Accountability Court here on Friday directed the prosecution to file BMW corruption reference against Asif Zardari, on Monday.

Later the court extended the judicial remand of the accused and adjourned the case till March 4.

Accountability Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of Steel Mills corruption reference against Asif Zardari till March 4.

The accused had moved the Lahore High Court alleging that certain amendments have been made in the original reference.

The High Court has appointed a person to verify whether the changes were made in the original reference and further proceedings in the case would start on the receipt of the said report.

Mr Farooq Naik is the defence counsel in the said case.