Court acquits only arrested in Cotecna case

Published
0

President Asif Ali Zardari.-Reuters

RAWALPINDI: In its decision on the Cotecna reference case, an accountability court on Friday acquitted the only person arrested in the case, DawnNews reported.

The court released the former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman A. R. Siddiqui due to insufficient evidence.

The court also decided that no action could be taken against President Asif Ali Zardari due to presidential immunity.

In the Cotecna case, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari were accused of taking six per cent of the total pre-shipment revenue for awarding the $131m contract.

Benazir Bhutto’s name was removed from the case after her assassination in December 27, 2007.

Begum Nusrat Bhutto, also linked to the case, has been unable to partake in the proceedings due to her illness.

Opinion

Editorial

Farming reform
Updated 06 Oct, 2026

Farming reform

Agriculture needs investment, but not another round of costly interventions.
Improved performance
06 Oct, 2026

Improved performance

THE recently concluded Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, were a revival of sorts for Pakistan, and a huge upgrade...
Mass surveillance
Updated 06 Oct, 2026

Mass surveillance

THE new National Cybercrime Investigation Agency chief, Ali Nasir Rizvi, has adopted a “zero-tolerance policy...
After the talks
Updated 05 Oct, 2026

After the talks

Considering how close they came to a solution, govt and opposition teams should reconvene to give the talks another chance.
Child safety online
Updated 05 Oct, 2026

Child safety online

Pakistani children are spending more of their lives online, but the safeguards around them are not keeping pace.
Rising public debt
05 Oct, 2026

Rising public debt

Pakistan’s public debt has surged by 76pc to Rs86.7tr in four years, according to a new government report.