ISLAMABAD, July 23: The Accountability Court Rawalpindi is expected to conclude hearing in Pakistan Steel Mills corruption case filed by National Accountability Bureau against Asif Ali Zardari.

The court is also expected to hand down the judgment in the case as Mr Zardari has not been convicted in a dozen corruption references filed against him.

The court at its last hearing on July 10 had rejected an application of respondent’s counsel for adjournment of the case till August directing him to finalize the arguments on the next hearing on July 24.

The court had also observed that in case respondent’s counsel did not turn up he would be given to personally present final arguments ‘failing which his arguments will be closed and the arguments of the prosecution will be heard.’

An application signed by Raja Mohammad Anwer seeking an adjournment on medical grounds till last week of August had been submitted before the court. However, the court noting that the case had been pending for the last four years, rejected the application giving a last chance to the defence council for presenting his final arguments on July 24.

Ms Bhutto has already been convicted and declared absconder, which bars her from contesting the forthcoming elections. However, Asif Ali Zardari has not been convicted and so far there is no legal bar on him to contest the elections. Under the existing accountability and elections laws, an accused can contest election unless convicted by any court, a legal expert said.