KARACHI, Nov 23: The defence counsel for Asif Ali Zardari told a court on Thursday that his client was unable to attend the legal proceedings against him as he was under medical treatment in the United States.

Counsel Shahadat Awan prayed Judge Shaukat Memon of the special anti-corruption court, central, to condone Mr Zardari’s absence from the court in the container case as he was undergoing cardiac rehabilitation to improve his cardiovascular fitness in the United States. The defence counsel also placed on record a fresh medical certificate issued on November 13 by Dr Samin Sharma of Cardiovascular Institute, New York.

The medical certificate said: Please be informed that Mr Asif Zardari has been under my medical care since July 2005 and he has been suffering from heart disease and coronary artery blockages.

He still has recurrent chest pain and he will require further medical evaluation. He is presently undergoing cardiac rehabilitation to improve his cardiovascular fitness. He underwent stress echo on October2, 2006 to evaluate his ongoing chest pain which showed contractile ventricle in anterior and inferior segments.

Judge Shaukat Ali Memon granted the application and put off hearing till January 11, 2007.