ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, on Tuesday issued notice to the Prosecutor General Accountability on the petition of Asif Ali Zardari, seeking grant of bail in BMW case.

The petitioner contended that there was no evidence with the prosecution to show that the car in question was owned by Asif Ali Zardari. The case will now be taken up on Feb 28.

Advocate Farooq H. Naek stated that the car in question, BMW 1993 model, bearing registration number Z-1337, was imported from London by one, Sajid Qayyum, lawfully and duty amounting to about Rs55 lakh had been paid.

The car was seized by NAB authorities in January 2000 from the garage owned by Aitzaz Niazi where it was allegedly sent for repairs in Nov 1999. As per documents, the ownership of the car has changed twice. After Sajid Qayyum, Badurddin became its owner and at present Saeed Khan is its recorded owner.

“The petitioner is said to be the owner of car on the allegation that it was sent for repairs in the month of November 1999 from Zardari House to the garage of Aitzaz Niazi.” The counsel stated that the car was not in the name of the petitioner and there was no document to link him with the import of the car and payment of customs duties for the clearance of goods.

The counsel stated that the petitioner was sick person and suffering from various life-threatening diseases. He further stated that if Asif Zardari was granted bail, he was not likely to abscond and was willing to furnish solvent surety to the satisfaction of his court.

He further stated that the licences for FM Radio and Pay Television were granted by the ministry of information in 1995. The petitioner was neither minister nor had any concern with the grant of the said licences.

The petitioner requested the court to enlarge the applicant on bail after arrest in BMW Car case and direct the respondents not to arrest him in future without the permission of the court.