ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked the counsel for former president Asif Ali Zardari to conclude arguments on his plea seeking bail in a suspicious transaction with Bahria Town involving Rs8.3 billion.

The IHC division bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resumed hearing on the bail plea on Tuesday.

Javed Iqbal Wains, the petitioner’s counsel, told the court that Mr Zardari could not appear before the court due to his ailment. He also submitted a medical certificate in this regard.

He requested the court to adjourn hearing of the case till Jan 12 as senior defence counsel Farooq H. Naek was busy with cases in the Supreme Court.

Deputy prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sardar Muzaffar Khan Abbasi, argued that the matter had been dragged on unnecessarily.

He said that Mr Zardari’s custody was required for interrogation in the suspicious transaction.

Zain Malik, the son-in-law of property tycoon Malik Riaz, is one of the accused along with Mr Zardari in the case. Mr Malik was, however, released after he entered a plea bargain with NAB.

The court reminded the counsel that pre-arrest interim bail granted to Mr Zardari in this case was conditional to cooperation with the investigation officer.

The bench advised the counsel to ask the former president to cooperate with the investigator and adjourned the hearing till Jan 12.

The IHC bench also adjourned hearing on a pre-arrest bail plea of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Rukhsana Bangash.

Ms Bangash is seeking bail in an ongoing inquiry into her assets.

The NAB’s deputy prosecutor general told the court that a questionnaire had been sent to Ms Bangash but she has not responded to it.

Advocate Wains, counsel for the petitioner, said that his client had raised certain questions on the questionnaire.

He told the court that since senior defence counsel Naek was busy in the apex court this matter should also be adjourned.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020