ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday challenged confiscation of his three vehicles by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Toshakhana reference.

The NAB had nominated Zardari, two former prime ministers -Nawaz Sharif and Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani- and others in Toshakhan reference.

Zardari, through his counsel, filed a petition before the Accountability Court against confiscation his of three vehicles by the anti-graft body.

The Accountability Court on August 17 had ordered to seize vehicles of former president, Zardari, and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana case.

The court had frozen the ownership of Asif Zardari's three vehicles including two BMW and one Lexus car.

The ownership of one Mercedes owned by Nawaz Sharif was also seized.

Zardari's counsel Farooq H Naeek said the NAB had written a letter to his client for handing over the vehicles. The verdict related to confiscation of vehicles was illegal, he said.

He pleaded the court to stop the NAB from confiscation of three of his vehicles till final decision on the petition.

The court issued notice to the NAB, and sought reply on the plea of the former president on September 24.

The court had declared former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as proclaimed offender and framed charges against Zardari, Gilani and others in Toshakhana reference.

The NAB had filed the Toshakhana reference against Zardari, Sharif, Gilani, and others, for allegedly acquiring vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana in violation of rules and regulations.

According to the bureau, the evidence collected during the course of inquiry and investigation has established that the accused, Gilani in order to extend illegal benefit to the accused, Zardari and Sharif, illegally allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by various foreign states and dignitaries, which at that time belonged to the Central Pool of Cars, Cabinet Division, relaxing the procedure of Toshakhana, illegally.

According to the NAB, accused, Zardari and Sharif, had retained the said vehicles against the nominal payment of 15 percent of total value of the vehicles.

The accused, Zardari, made the payment for vehicles, and duties of these vehicles through the accused, Khawaja Anwer Majid and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majid, from "fake" bank accounts.

The accused, Gilani, former prime minister and minister-in-charge Cabinet Division from 2008-2012 had "illegally" relaxed the procedure for the acceptance and disposal of gifts, issued by the government through the Cabinet Division OM no.9/8/2004 TK dated June 25, 2007.

According to these rules, "gifted vehicles shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipients and be given to the Central Pool of Cars of the Cabinet Division."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020