ISLAMABAD, March 31: The Court of Appeal of the Canton of Geneva has allowed National Accountability Bureau’s deputy chairman Hassan Waseem Afzal to represent the country during the hearing of money-laundering cases against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and others.

According to a press release of the NAB, the Swiss court admitted the NAB’s appeal after hearing both the parties and authorised its deputy chairman to represent the interests of the state of Pakistan as a damaged civil party in the criminal proceedings.

The court ordered that the presence of NAB officers was not detrimental to the interests of proceedings. The next round of hearing is expected in April, the NAB press release said.

The criminal proceedings were launched by the Swiss government in 1997 against Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and their agent Jems Schelegalmilch on charges of money-laundering. Pakistan was admitted as a damaged civil party to the proceedings.

During the last hearing of the case held on November 24, Ms Benazir Bhutto protested against the presence of NAB’s deputy chairman in the court. The judge reportedly asked NAB officials, including its deputy chairman, to leave the court.