ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The accountability court of Islamabad has summoned former president and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari on Dec 23 for indicting him in the “polo ground” corruption reference.

But, the court commenced trial against Mr Zardari in other cases and summoned 17 witnesses on Dec 23 for recording their statements after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) conceded that no fresh indictment was necessary in the pending corruption references.

Farooq H. Naek, the counsel for Mr Zardari, said in the court on Monday that after the repeal of Ehtesab Act in 1998, the cases formed under Ehtesab Act could be taken up in accordance with the NAB ordinance. Since the indictment had already been done in the SGS, ARY Gold and Ursus tractors cases there was no need for fresh indictment, Mr Naek said.

At the previous hearing on Nov 26 the court had ordered fresh framing of charges on Dec 9 against Mr Zardari in the four corruption references — Ursus tractors, ARY gold, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) and polo ground.

Except for the polo ground case, charges in the three corruption references have already been framed.

In the Cotecna corruption case Mr Naek had sought copies of references from the NAB prosecution that was provided to him on Monday.

At the start of the hearing when the court asked Mr Naek why his client was not in the court, the counsel submitted an application for grant of exemption to Mr Zardari from personal appearance. He said the former president faced security threats.

The NAB prosecutor said that providing security to Mr Zardari was not responsibility of the bureau because he was not in its custody.

The court issued directives for Mr Zardari to personally appear before it at the next hearing.