Co-Chairman Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday withdrew bail petitions in three cases - Park Lane Company, bulletproof cars and Toshakhana cases. Zardari came to the rostrum and requested the bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani that he wanted to withdraw his bail petitions. The bench was hearing the PPP leader's petitions seeking bail in the aforementioned cases.
Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also present in the courtroom during the course of hearing of the bail petitions of his father. At the outset of the hearing, Zardari pleaded that no one can bar him from establishing a company, adding that all the cases against him are fake.
He added that the prosecutor said that he had established a company but there is no evidence of loan. He continued that in past, he was sentenced to jail for eight years in the BMW case. He questioned the legitimacy of cases filed against him. Zardari said he was well aware of the reasons for his 'victimisation'. He said false cases were filed against him. "I know what my actual crimes are and why I stand before you today. I am no stranger to injustices; I have spent many years in prison and am ready to bear this injustice too," said the former president.
Since NAB had earlier issued warrants for the former president's arrest in the Park Lane case, the bureau will formalise Zardari's arrest in that case in due course.
Talking to media persons after the hearing, Zardari said that only petitions were withdrawn and not cases. "If they want to put me in prison, they can," he added. On the occasion, police made stringent security arrangements by deploying security personnel to avoid any untoward situation. The former president had filed three petitions before the IHC, seeking bail in the Park Lane and two other cases. The NAB chairman has already issued warrants for his arrest in Park Lane case.
The Park Lane case is related to alleged fake bank accounts. As per NAB's record submitted before the IHC, it is "regarding corruption and corrupt practices in extending loan and its misappropriation by M/S Parthenon Private Limited, M/S Park Lane Estates Private Limited and others."
In other cases, the NAB said that Zardari in connivance with former prime minister and fellow party leader Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, illegally obtained three luxury bullet-proof cars, two BMWs and one Toyota Lexus from the Toshakhana (the state gift repository), which were gifted by the governments of the UAE and Libya.
It further said that Zardari paid Rs 37.16 million as duty/tax on the said vehicles through cheques issued from the fake accounts in question. In reply to these petitions, the anti-graft body adopted, "All the proceedings were taken in accordance with law and there is absolutely no violation of fundamental rights of petitioner. He had been given complete opportunity vide call-up notice to clarify allegations levelled against him."
"There is no statutory provision provided in the law whereby NAB is bound to inform or notice before arrest hence this petition is liable to be dismissed," contended the bureau. Therefore, the bureau prayed to the court that petitions of Zardari seeking bail may be dismissed in the interest of justice.
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