January 31, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 1, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 30: The Sindh High Court on Monday issued notice to AG Sindh on an application submitted by Asif Ali Zardari, a spouse of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, seeking transfer of Murtaza Bhutto murder trial from court of district and session judge east to another court.

The ex-senator submitted he has no faith in trial court judge for deciding his case “justly and fairly.”

He is named as one of the co-accused who are charged with killing Murtaza Bhutto, brother of Benazir Bhutto and Chairman of Pakistan People Party (SB) along with seven others, including his close aide Ashiq Jatoi, on Sept 20, 1996, near his residence in Clifton, when they were coming after attending the party meeting from Surjani.

The District and Session Judge East earlier turned down the request of Asif for transfer of Murtaza Bhutto murder trial from the court observing trial is being conducted in accordance with law.

Zardari had alleged that his acquittal and exemption for personal appearance applications were dismissed by the trial court under the influence of NAB. He said that the government and the NAB were making every effort to put him in jail again.

SHC’s single bench, comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani, after preliminary hearing of the application, issued notice to the AG for the next hearing which to be fixed by the office of the court.

State claim: The state claimed notice of an application moved by Asif Ali Zardari, an accused in the murder case of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and others seeking transfer of case from the court of District and Sessions Judge, East.

Appearing before a bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC), comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani, on Monday, Sabir Haider, Additional Advocate General Sindh, claimed notice. The bench allowed the request and, while issuing notice to the state and other respondents, put off further proceedings to a date to be fixed later by the office of the court.

Barrister Azizullah K Shaikh moved the application, maintaining that three other courts of the same stature trying the applicant have accepted the medical certificate submitted on behalf of the accused while the instant court entrusted with the trial of murder case of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and seven other workers and supporters of PPP (Shaheed Bhutto) has declined to accept the same and has issued non-bailable warrants of arrest against the applicant, rejecting the application to condone attendance of the accused from trial proceedings.

In another ground, the counsel stated that Brig (Retd) Shafaat Nabi Sherwani, now deputy prosecutor general NAB and brother of DJ East, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani may influence the trial.—PPI/APP