ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to exempt former president and co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) from personal appearance in hearing of a petition filed by him related to the Park Lane case.

Mr Zardari, who is now in NAB’s custody in connection with the investigation into a fake account case, has filed an application before the IHC through his counsel Farooq H. Naek, seeking his production before the IHC during the hearing of the Park Lane case.

In a written reply filed before the IHC, NAB stated that “it is submitted that production of the petitioner / accused under-interrogation before this court may require arrangement of high security and may cause inconvenience for other litigants, and in this view, this Hon’ble Court has power to exempt the personal appearance of the petitioner”.

The bureau informed the IHC that the NAB chairman had issued warrants for Mr Zardari’s arrest in the case titled The State vs Hussain Lawai [fake account case] and that he was arrested after dismissal of his pre-arrest bail petition and he was on physical remand till July 2.

According to the reply, “the investigation is under way and the petitioner is being interrogated. Medical facilities as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) and directions of the learned Accountability Court are duly being provided to the petitioner.”

NAB, however, stated before the IHC, “This Hon’ble Court may pass any order deemed appropriate which shall be complied in letter and spirit.”

In the application, Mr Zardari stated before the court that “the petitioner is required to be produced before the Hon’ble Court to ensure the decision of instant petition on merit. Well-being of the petitioner is a matter of concern during the investigation and this can be resolved by producing the petitioner in the court.”

Mr Zardari has filed a petition before the IHC, seeking bail in the Park Lane case. The NAB chairman has already issued warrants for his arrest in this case.

The Park Lane case is related to alleged fake bank accounts. As per NAB’s record submitted before the IHC, it is “regarding corruption and corrupt practices in extending loan and its misappropriation by M/S Parthenon Private Limited, M/S Park Lane Estates Private Limited and others”.

In an earlier hearing last week, Mr Zardari’s counsel pleaded before the court that his client had been in NAB’s custody on physical remand since June 10. He stated that Mr Zardari should be produced on the next hearing to meet the standards of justice.

He argued that it was necessary to get information about the health condition of Mr Zardari. He prayed to the court to order NAB to produce his client on the next hearing of the case.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2019