ISLAMABAD, March 1: Asif Zardari filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking a direction that he should be shifted to Karachi.

In his review petition, Asif Zardari stated that he had been detained since Nov 5, 1996, the day PPP government was removed.

The petitioner stated that he was brought to Islamabad from Karachi, and admitted in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.

He said that more than nine months had passed since April 16, 2001, but the trial against him at Attock Fort and at Rawalpindi were not concluded despite clear direction of the court.

In these circumstances, trial of the cases pending before the accountability courts at Attock and Rawalpindi could not be completed in three months as directed by the court, despite lapse of nine months, he said.

Mr Zardari also stated that cases pending against the applicant at Karachi were to be disposed of after completion of the trials at Rawalpindi and Attock.

The applicant said that if process of the courts was allowed to continue in such a manner he would remain in jail for indefinite period.