IHC granted post-arrest bail to Zardari on medical grounds

PPP President, Asif Ali Zardari was granted post-arrest bail on Wednesday by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on medical grounds in two cases filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Former president who is being investigated by the anti-grafting body over allegations of money laundering and corruption had filed an application in the IHC earlier in this month to obtain bail in two cases.

A two-member bench consisting of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq heard the application on Wednesday (today).

According to the Dawn, PPP leader was granted bail against two surety bonds of Rs.10 million each.

During the proceedings, Farooq H. Naek represented the PPP leader while, NAB prosecutor general Jahanzaib Bharwana and deputy prosecutor general Sardar Muzafar Abbasi represented the NAB.

NAB submitted Zardari’s medical report prepared by a five-member medical board, which was formed on IHC’s order to examine the former president.

The IHC bench asked the NAB’s prosecutor to read the medical report loudly. According to the medical board, Zardari is suffering from type-2 diabetes and also faces heart ailments. It further revealed that the former president had three stents placed in him and needs an angiography, Dawn reported.

It was also mentioned in the report that it was not possible for the PPP leader to receive proper treatment while in Jail.

The court was told by the NAB’s legal team that anti-corruption body had completed its interrogation and filed a reference.

“Does NAB want Zardari to remain under detention and receive treatment on state’s expenditure?” asked Justice Minallah. The anti-corruption watchdog did not answer, Dawn reported.

Following which, the IHC high court granted bail to Zardari in both cases.

According to Dawn, Zardari, Talpur and other accused face charges of corruption through fake bank accounts and embezzlement in the financial facility for Park Lane Private Limited and Parthenon (Pvt) Limited. NAB alleged that the national exchequer suffered a loss of Rs3.77 billion because of the irregularities.

Zardari was under detention on charges of money laundering and has been undergoing treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad. He was arrested by NAB after the cancellation of his pre-arrest bail by the IHC in the fake bank accounts case on June 10, the Dawn reported.