ISLAMABAD: The counsel for former president Asif Ali Zardari on Monday informed the accountability court that since the government had not provided foolproof security to his client, he could not attend the proceedings.

In last hearing on December 9, the accountability court had summoned the former president to indict him in the “polo ground” corruption reference.

His counsel Farooq H. Naek had assured the court that his client would appear on December 23.

The court had to defer the indictment of the former president till January 9.

On Monday, advocate Naek told the court that his client faced security threats, therefore, he could not appear before the court.

Naek said according to court’s instruction, a letter had been written to secretary interior and the police authorities for providing security of Zardari, but the request was not responded.

Talking to media after hearing, Naek said that couldn’t appear before court until foolproof security is provided.

He pointed out that earlier in December 2007 the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto the spouse of Mr Zardari has been assassinated due to security breach therefore it was not possible for Mr Zardari to appear in the court without adequate security. He said all the cases against his client were baseless and Zardari had spent more than eight years behind the bars in these cases.

Being president, Mr Zardari enjoyed constitutional immunity for five years and the cases against him remained pending.

The accountability court last month had reopened five NAB references-- SGS, Cotecna, ARY, polo ground and Ursus tractors-- against Zardari.