Asif Ali Zardari released, will be shifted to hospital in Karachi today

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has been released from the Adiala Jail after getting bail on medical grounds by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and shifted to the Zardari House from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, which has been declared as sub-jail since he was admitted there.

After completion of legalformalities, Asif Ali Zardari left PIMS to Zardari House in Islamabad and will leave for Karachi for medical treatment.

The IHC has granted bail on medical grounds to Zardari in two cases — Mega Money Laundering and Park Lane Estate case — on Wednesday on the submission of two surety bonds and on Thursday he was released from PIMS. He was scheduled to be shifted to Karachi on Thursday but due too bad weather in Islamabad and not feeling well so the plan of shifting him to Karachi was cancelled and rescheduled for Friday.

However, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has left for Karachi on Thursday evening. He along with his younger sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and with senior leaders of the PPP including ex-prime ministers Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, Senator Sherry Rehman and other senior leaders of the PPP reached the PIMS hospital to take the former president to Zardari House.

A large number of supporters gathered at the scene and threw rose petals on his car and also raised slogans. Provincial Minister of Sindh Syed Nasir Shah also confirmed the newsmen that Asif Ali Zardari will be shifted to Karachi from Islamabad on Friday.

Information Secretary of PPP Parliamentarians Dr Nafisa Shah while talking with the newsmen termed the release of Asif Ali Zardari as a ‘victory and good day’ for the country and democracy. “I pay gratitude to the workers of the party who stood with the truth and contest the case in courts of law,” she said.

Criticizing the NAB Laws, she said under this law they took anyone into custody but the winds were not blowing other side where the cabinet members of Imran Khan were accused in different cases but roaming freely in official protocols.

Dr Nafisa Shah said the court had granted the bail to the former president on medical grounds and on merit after government nominated medical board recommended the treatment of former president at specialist care facility.