ISLAMABAD: Citing `security reasons’, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari did not appear on Wednesday before an accountability court in Rawalpindi to attend the hearing of a reference about his assets.

The former president expressed dissatisfaction over what he called ‘inadequate security’ arrangements made for him to reach the court.

The court had earlier summoned Mr Zardari on May 5 but at that time too he did not attend the hearing, citing ill-health.

Also read: Zardari assets reference reopened

His lawyer Senator Farooq Naek had told the court that Mr Zardari had eaten a meal of spicy ladyfingers that had caused food poisoning.

The former president was summoned again on Wednesday but despite arriving in Islamabad from Karachi on Tuesday, he refrained from appearing in the court.

“Mr Zardari has serious threats to his life but police have not provided foolproof security to him,” his counsel told the court.

He said it was the duty of police to provide adequate security to the PPP chief but even a bomb disposal squad was not present outside the court.

Mr Naek said Mr Zardari would definitely attend the hearing of the case if comprehensive security cover was provided to him.

The court ordered the Punjab police to address the complaint of Mr Zardari and provide the required security to him. It gave a one-day exemption to him from court appearance.

The court reopened the assets reference against Mr Zardari on April 17 on the request of special prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau, Raja Khurram Ejaz. He had said that Mr Zardari could be tried now because his presidential immunity had expired after he had left the office.

In the reference, Mr Zardari and his slain wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, were accused of acquiring assets through illegal means. The case was also tried in a Swiss court.

According to sources, the reopening of the reference was necessary to seek legal assistance from Switzerland for repatriation of Mr Zardari’s assets, particularly a jewellery set, for which the government has recently written to the Swiss authorities.

The Swiss authorities were informed that an investigation was being conducted against Mr Zardari and others in Pakistan.

Last year, the Accountability Court of Islamabad cleared the PPP leader in three corruption references filed by the NAB 17 years ago. But he still faces the SGS and Cotecna references.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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