ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: A spokesman of the National Accountability Bureau dispelled on Saturday the impression created by news reports that the government was prolonging the accountability cases against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari.

“It is clarified that several cases pending against the former prime minister and her spouse are being prolonged by them and not by the NAB,” the spokesman said.

He said a large number of adjournments had been obtained by the defence lawyers on one pretext or the other and cases were not allowed to proceed.

“The accountability courts grant adjournment in their own discretion by granting requests of defence counsel in order to provide maximum opportunity to the defence in the interest of justice,” he pointed out.

The spokesman referred to Steel Mills case in which 14 adjournments were obtained by defence lawyer of Asif Zardari and 22 adjournments in assets case.