Nawaz’ domicile is better than mine: Zardari

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: In a thinly veiled assertion that he is being treated unfairly due to his ethnicity, former president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday remarked that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s domicile is “better” than his. Speaking outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where he had appeared for a bail hearing against his wishes, Zardari was asked to give his opinion on whether the laws were different for him and the PML-N leader. To this, he simply said, “Mian Sahab’s domicile is better than mine”.

He was referring to underlying resentment among Pakistan’s smaller ethno-linguistic groups against the dominant Punjabi ethnic group. Zardari had been told to show up in person for the hearing even though his counsel had pleaded that he was not required to do so due to his ill health.

When asked whether he would advise Nawaz to return to Pakistan, the PPP stalwart said he would not give anyone any advice, but if someone wants to, they can.

While answering questions from media outside the court Asif Ali Zardari said that same thing would happen in the Kashmir election that had been happening always. He was of the view that PPP was a solid party and they had been fighting in Kashmir for 50 to 60 years.

Responding to a question whether he was heading to reconciliation or resistance, the former president replied that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was the commander of anti-government movement. He stated that Bilawal was not going to America on some visit, he was going there to attend a conference.

Earlier, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted interim bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari till July 28 and stopped National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting him in inquiry pertaining to his property in New York City (NYC).

A division bench of Islamabad High Court, comprising of Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq, took up the plea of former president Zardari for his interim bail. The court granted bail to him against surety bonds worth Rs0.5 million. The bench also sought the comments from NAB till next date against the pre-arrest bail petition.

The bench announced the decision after listening arguments from the petitioner’s lawyer Farooq H. Naek.

Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari appeared before the court in compliance of bench’s directives. Naek and former governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khan Khosa were also in attendance on the occasion. As the former president reached the IHC, his legal team requested the Registrar Office to allow his vehicle’s entry to reach outside the court room due to his health condition. However, the former president reached the courtroom himself while walking. He had challenged the NAB’s call-up notice before IHC and requested for interim bail till the completion of inquiry.

The petition said that the NAB had served a call-up notice to former president on June 15, regarding an inquiry pertaining to apartment at Belaire, 524 East 72nd Street, 37-F Manhattan NYC. The NAB had sent a questionnaire and sought detailed answers till June 24. The petition said that there was a risk of arrest of former president like the past and prayed the court to turn down the call-up notice besides granting an interim bail to the petitioner till the final decision of the case.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted: “My father got on flight from hospital to Islamabad for court today. He was in court 8 days ago too. Not an absconder or traitor or terrorist. Not convicted of anything. On ECL without dispute but punishment parade for civilian who gave democracy continues despite global pandemic.”