ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court hearing a multi-billion-rupee fake bank accounts case on Friday fixed July 6 for indictment of former president Asif Ali Zardari and other accused in the Park Lane corruption reference.

The Accountability Court Judge, Muhammad Azam Khan, while hearing the case, fixed July 6 for indictment of the accused. The judge decided to indict Zardari and other accused via a video link from Karachi.

The court directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to make arrangements for indictment of accused Zardari and others through a video link.

During the last hearing, Zardari's lawyer, Farooq H Naek, submitted an exemption application, seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court because of the prevalent coronavirus situation in the country. He said that his client was seriously ill, and he could not travel.

"The coronavirus has spread across the country, and older people like Zardari are more likely to be infected with the virus," the counsel said.

On this, the judge said, "You have appeared in the current situation, then call your client too."

The judge said that social distancing would be maintained in the courtroom as well as he could be called in a separate room for getting his signature.

Zardari's counsel told the court that due to presence of a large number of lawyers in the courtroom, maintaining social distance would not be possible.

On this, the judge said, "If the accused cannot appear, they can record their video statement."

The NAB prosecutor further said that all the requirements had been met in the Park Lane case, and that the date of the indictment should be fixed soon so that the trial could proceed.

The court fixed July 6 for indictment of Zardari and other accused. NAB filed the Park Lane reference against Zardari and 16 other accused on August 19 before the court.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020