KARACHI, Aug 26: The defence lawyer for Asif Ali Zardari filed on Tuesday objection to the prosecution’s application seeking his client’s shifting away from Karachi.

Shahadat Awan, counsel for the former senator in the Justice Nizam murder case, appeared before the district and sessions judge, Central, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani, and filed written objections to the state counsel’s application.

Naseem Jawaid, appearing for the state, had moved an application in the court for the withdrawal of its order of keeping Mr Zardari in Karachi till Sept 5.

The state counsel submitted that Mr Zardari was urgently required in two cases of the National Accountability Bureau pending in Rawalpindi and Attock. “It is expedient in the interest of justice that the order may be withdrawn so that the accused could be shifted immediately”, he stated.

In his application, Mr Awan asked the court to dismiss the application of the state counsel as it was not maintainable. He said the state attorney had no locus standi to make such prayer and he had not even mentioned any provision of law in his application.

The defence counsel stated that the prosecutor appeared more interested in the trial of NAB cases though he had no concern with those cases.

He contended that the prosecution was intentionally avoiding to proceed with the case as it wanted it to linger. He said the prosecutor’s application was aimed at avoiding the next date of hearing — Sept 5.

The defence counsel also prayed the court to order that his client be kept in Karachi till the disposal of this case.

The judge issued notice to the state counsel for forwarding his arguments on Thursday.