KARACHI, Oct 28: District and Sessions Judge East Karachi Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani on Saturday reserved order on a prosecution application which requested the court to declare Asif Ali Zardari as an absconder in Murtaza Bhutto murder conspiracy case.

Special prosecutors M Ilyas Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed submitted that the trial is being delayed due to prolonged absence of accused who was not appearing before the court intentionally since the dismissal of his plea for exemption from his personal appearance before the court.

They prayed the court to declare Asif Zardari as an absconder by separating his case and allowing the prosecution to conclude its case.

The application was opposed by Asif's counsel Azizullah K Shiekh contending that the defendant is being represented by him as his client was being medically treated abroad.—PPI