KARACHI, Aug 13: The district and sessions judge, Central Nisar Ahmed Shaikh, adjourned on Saturday the hearing of the Justice Nizam murder case against Asif Ali Zardari and three others.

The judge fixed Oct 29 after Zardari’s counsel Shahadat Awan placed an application praying the court to adjourn the case as his client was sick and admitted to the hospital.

The spouse of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, with three co-accused — Akhtar Javed Pirzada, Bilal Shaikh and Babar Sindhu — are facing charges of double murder.

The former judge of the Sindh High Court and his son, Nadim Ahmed, a lawyer, were shot dead in an attack in 1996 near their house within the limits of the Ferozabad police.

In his application, the defence counsel also prayed the court to condone Mr. Zardari’s absence for Saturday’s hearing “as he was admitted to Welcare Hospital on June 4.”

He stated that his client underwent primary coronary angioplasty and balloon angioplasty of the diagonal artery. “On June 18, Dr. Rajesh Riapancholia advised him a 12-week rest and to avoid strenuous physical and stress related activities until assessed by further tests to evaluate his health status.

The court issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of co-accused Akhtar Javed Prizada as he did not turn up to attend the court proceedings. Accused Babar Sindhu also did not turn up and a medical certificate for his sickness was placed on record. Accused Bilal Shaikh was, however, present with his attorney.