KARACHI, Jan 5: The District and Session Judge-East, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, on Thursday turned down the request of Asif Ali Zardari seeking transfer of Murtaza Bhutto murder trial from the court, observing that the trial is being conducted in accordance with law and if the accused had any grievance, he could approach High Court for transfer of the trial.

Asif Zardari sought transfer of the trial from the court submitting that he had no faith in the trial court judge.

Sending his application through fax to the Session Judge from New York, US, he had requested the court to make a reference to High Court of Sindh for the transfer of the case as such references have been made in the past in the said case by his predecessors.

He alleged that his applications for acquittal and exemption for personal appearance were dismissed by the court under the influence of NAB.

He submitted that he was released on bail in all cases after incarcerating eight years, but the government and the NAB were making every effort to put him in jail again even if he is seriously sick and gone under heart surgery.—PPI