NY apartment case: IHC directs Zardari to appear in person today

ISLAMABAD: On former president Asif Ali Zardari interim bail plea on NAB inquiry on apartment in New York City, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed him to appear in person today (July 7).

An IHC division bench, comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq, heard the pre-arrest bail case of former president filed through his counsel Farook H. Naek. During hearing Naek pleaded that former president couldn't appear before court due to health problems and prayed the court to grant him bail in NAB inquiry in his absence. He said that he had also filed an application, seeking exemption from hearing for his client. Zardari was under treatment in hospital, he contended. He, however, said that the former president would appear before 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. IHC chief justice remarked that it could be set as precedent for others if the court granted bail to Asif Zardari in his absence.

To this, Naek prayed the court to grant his client a 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 (Wednesday) and adjourned the case.