IHC wants Zardari in person for bail hearing

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed former president Asif Ali Zardari to appear in person today (Wednesday) for a hearing on his interim bail petition in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry pertaining to an apartment in New York City.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq heard the pre-arrest bail case of the former president filed through his counsel Farook Naek.

At the outset of hearing, Naek pleaded that the former president could not appear before the court due to health problems and requested the court to grant him bail in the NAB inquiry in his absence. He said he had also filed an application seeking exemption from hearing for his client.

Zardari was under treatment in hospital, he contended. He, however, said the former president would appear before the court if it summoned him in person.

Justice Farooq remarked that it was necessary for anyone to appear before court to get interim bail under the law. Chief Justice Minallah remarked that it could be a precedent for others if the court granted bail to Zardari in his absence.

To this, Naek requested the court to grant his client protective bail so he could appear before the bench. The chief justice remarked that the petitioner could approach Sindh High Court for protective bail. The bench, however, instructed the former president to appear in person today and adjourned the case.

The petition said the NAB had served a call-up notice to former president on June 15, regarding an inquiry pertaining to the Belaire apartment in Manhattan. The NAB had sent a questionnaire and sought answers till June 24. The petition said there was a risk Zardari could be arrested and requested the court to turn down the call-up notice in addition to granting interim bail.