Zardari arrives in Karachi for medical treatment

KARACHI: Former president Asif Ali Zardari arrived in the city from Islamabad on Friday, a couple of days after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted him bail on medical grounds. 

Zardari was brought to Karachi from Islamabad in a Sindh Government LG-45 aircraft. The plane carrying Zardari landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi at 09:09pm at terminal 1.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah traveled with the former president in the aircraft. He took Zardari from the hospital to the aircraft.

READ MORE: Key points from IHC order releasing Zardari on bail

Zardari traveled from the aircraft to the airport lounge in a wheelchair. He was received at the airport by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Along with Bilawal, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani and Provincial Minister for Local Government, Forests and Religious Affairs Nasir Shah was also present on the occasion.

A large number of PPP workers arrived at the airport to receive Zardari, who has been released on bail six months after he was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Zardari was arrested in June by Pakistan’s anti-graft body in connection to a high-profile money laundering case. The co chairman of the second largest opposition party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), is accused of setting up fake companies to siphon money out of the country during his tenure as president.

Although the case is ongoing in an accountability court, Zardari has yet to be indicted. In the last six months, the 64-year-old’s health, say his family, has considered deteriorated and he is urgent need of specialized treatment.