ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: The High Court of Isle of Man (UK) on Friday granted a stay order to the government against an application filed on behalf of former senator Asif Ali Zardari to get liquidated amount of Rockwood Surrey Palace, a press release issued by the Press Information Department said on Friday.

The government claimed that the decision of the court was in its favour while People’s Party Parliamentarians spokesman Farhatullah Babar termed it a “moral victory and a vindication of its position that the regime’s allegations were mala fide and politically motivated”.

According to the National Accountability Bureau, it has been allowed by the court to file an appeal against the order and a bench of two judges will hear it.

The High Court of Isle of Man had admitted the government’s claim that Mr Zardari owned the Rockwood Estate and basing upon this judgment of Feb 9, NAB had filed a case in the London High Court to prove that the Rockwood (Surrey) Palace was purchased with the money looted from Pakistan through corruption, the government claimed.

The proceedings in the High Court of Isle of Man were primarily originated by the liquidator of the companies, which were tacitly being controlled by Mr Zardari, it said.

NAB demands that 4.5 million pounds made out of corrupt practices should stand repatriated to the people of Pakistan while Mr Zardari has requested the court that the money should be given to him.