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SC seeks reply from NAB on Zardari’s plea for transfer of graft cases

SC seeks reply from NAB on Zardari’s plea for transfer of graft cases
January 27, 2021

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Supreme Court (SC) issued on Wednesday has sought reply from the NAB on a petition by former president Asif Ali Zardari seeking transfer of corruption cases filed against him in Islamabad’s accountability courts to Karachi.

The court heard the petition morning and issued notices to NAB, Faryal Talpur and other respondents in the case. The judges said it will have to examine the circumstances under which the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the trial to Islamabad.

The Supreme Court’s January 7, 2019 verdict is final, said the judges. “We cannot stop implementation of a court verdict nor change it.” Lawyer Farooq H Naek said legal rights cannot be curtailed by a verdict.

Justice Umar Atta Bandial asked whether references ever been filed against Zardari in Islamabad before.

Cases were lodged in Lahore and Rawalpindi, he said, adding that one was also heard in Attock Qila. The court adjourned the hearing for a month.

Zardari wants the cases against him to be heard in Karachi, where he lives.

The hearing was adjourned for one month.

On November 3, Asif Ali Zardari approached the SC, requesting the court to transfer the graft cases filed against him by the NAB from Islamabad’s courts to similar courts in Karachi where he lives.