Zardari to be indicted on Oct 28 in Rs8 billion suspicious transactions case

• Accountability process will continue till country’s economy does not come down further, says Asif Ali Zardari.
• Next turn will be of PPP to form government in the country, claims Zardari.
• Zardari cannot be indicted in suspicious transactions case after new NAB ordinance, argues his lawyer. 

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad on Thursday set October 28 as the date for the indictment of former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in a Rs8 billion suspicious transactions case.

In the court's verdict, reserved earlier today, accountability judge Syed Asghar Ali rejected Zardari’s acquittal plea and summoned him on the next hearing for indictment.

The hearing was adjourned till October 28.

Zardari files acquittal plea  

The former president appeared before the accountability court in Islamabad today and filed an acquittal plea.

During the proceedings, his counsel Farooq Hamid Naek argued that Zardari could not be indicted in the case after the new NAB ordinance.

“No allegation about harming the national exchequer has been levelled against my client in the case,” the lawyer said, adding that the case did not fall under corruption and corrupt practices.

Hence, the accountability court has no jurisdiction to hear the case, argued the lawyer.

Zardari’s counsel said that an allegation relating to Rs150 million worth of registered sale deeds has been levelled against his client and, as per the case, the amount was paid through bank cheques.

He said that the bank cheques did not belong to Asif Ali Zardari.

“First of all, tell me whether this petition is admissible or not?” asked the judge.

The lawyer pleaded with the court to issue a notice to NAB and seek its reply and said he would then give his arguments on it.

Meanwhile, the judge reserved the verdict over the admissibility of the petition and said that he would announce his decision shortly.

'PPP will form next govt'

Speaking to journalists after the appearance Zardari claimed that his party will form the next government in the country.

Responding to a question about the duration of the accountability process, Zardari said: "The process will continue till the country’s economy does not come down further.”