Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-corruption court on Monday reserved its judgement in a case against former President Asif Ali Zardari over alleged irregularities in the construction of a polo ground.
Anti-corruption court judge Mohammad Bashir heard five cases against Zardari, who completed his term as President in September last year. Zardari is the head of the main opposition Pakistan People`s Party.
Zardari`s counsel Farooq Naek told the court that a probe by the Federal Investigation Agency in the polo ground case was unlawful. Without an application from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the FIA could not undertake a suo motu probe, he argued.
Naek said the statements of 28 witnesses and two investigative officers had been recorded but none of the witnesses had named Zardari.
Noting that Zardari`s slain wife Benazir Bhutto was the premier at the time, Naek questioned what role he could have played in the construction of the polo ground at the Prime Minister`s House.
Naek pointed out that Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum, who was Bhutto`s military secretary during 1994-96, had not said that Zardari or Bhutto had ordered the construction of the ground.
He also pointed out that the court had acquitted other accused in the case and their acquittal was not challenged by the NAB. If the court had ruled that the main suspect in the case was not guilty, then there were no grounds for pursuing the case against the co-accused, he added.
The case is related to the construction of a polo ground and ancillary works at the Prime Minister`s House, which NAB alleges are illegal.
Zardari had immunity from prosecution during his term as President. After he stepped down, the current PML-N government reopened several cases against him.
