Islamabad (Web Desk): An accountability court in Islamabad on Friday sent Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to Adiala Jail on judicial remand till August 19 in the fake bank accounts case.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials presented Asif Ali Zardari before accountability court.
During the proceedings, the persecutor of the anti-corruption body requested the court to extend former president’s remand in light of the recent developments in the case.
Zardari's counsel Latif Khosa said that the former president had earlier requested that NAB be granted his 90-day physical remand once, instead of multiple shorter remands. The counsel argued that while a 90-day remand could not be granted, the court could approve a 14-day remand.
"After four days they [NAB] come again and ask for remand," he said, adding that the repeated court appearances cause a loss to the national exchequer.
Appearing on the rostrum, Zardari said that he was not allowed to offer prayers even on Eidul Azha. He said that his daughter was not allowed to meet him during the holiday, despite having court permission to do so.
The former president questioned why he wasn’t allowed to meet his daughter Aseefa Bhutto Zardari despite the court’s permission. The court then remarked that the PPP co-chairman be allowed to meet his daughter.
Khosa said that the former president's legal team should be granted permission to visit him twice a week, adding that lawyers were "officers of the court".
He also filed a plea in the court asking that Zardari be provided with A-class facilities in prison, including medical facilities and the permission to meet his family.
The accountability court then summoned a reply from NAB regarding the request and issued orders to shift Zardari to Adiala Jail on judicial remand.
On August 11, Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur was also shifted to Adiala Jail.
She was arrested by NAB on June 14 in connection with the money laundering and fake accounts case.