KARACHI, Oct 31: The Sindh High Court asked the sessions court trying Murtaza Bhutto murder case not to issue a warrant for former federal minister Asif Ali Zardari’s arrest pending his application for exemption from personal appearance in the case.

Appearing for the applicant, Advocate Azizullah K. Shaikh submitted before Justice Azizullah M. Memon that three of the accused allegedly involved in the murder of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, former DIG Shoaib Suddle, ex-SSP Tahir and former Intelligence Bureau chief Masood Sharif had been granted exemption but the concession was being withheld from his client.

He suffered a heart attack when he went to rejoin his family at Dubai after eight years of incarceration.

He was advised treatment at a New York hospital, which alone had the requisite facilities. Mr Zardari was still undergoing treatment in the US and was unable to return home for trial.

Besides him, Advocate Shaikh said, Abu Bakr Zardari and Noor Mohammad Saheto were appearing before the trial court and the applicant could be exempted like other accused.

The counsel said the prosecution has moved the trial court of the district and sessions judge East for issuance of fresh warrants so that the ex-minister could be declared a proclaimed offender.

He prayed to the high court to restrain the trial court from issuing a warrant pending a decision on his exemption application. The request was granted.