Court rejects Zardari’s plea to be shifted to Karachi for treatment

• NAB said Zardari should submit request for transfer to the government.
• Zardari was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on October 22.

An accountability court rejected on Tuesday Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari's plea seeking his transfer to Karachi for medical treatment.

Zardari's lawyer Farooq H. Naek had filed an application asking that his client be shifted to Karachi for medical treatment. During the hearing on Tuesday, he told the court that the former president's condition is worrisome and he should be given permission to receive treatment of his choice, local media reported.

His request was opposed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) who said that they should ask the government. Another lawyer of the PPP co-chairperson, Latif Khosa, said that Zardari has never begged the government earlier, 'nor will he do so now'.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its verdict regarding Zardari's request to be shifted to Karachi for treatment. The court extended the judicial remand of Zardari and his sister, Faryal Talpur, till November 26 in the case.

On Monday, PPP's Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the official medical board had declared Zardari’s health as critical. The former president was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on October 22. After his arrest in the money laundering through fake accounts case, the PPP leader was taken to Adiala Jail.