–Accountability watchdog says it has ‘concrete evidence’ to substantiate mega corruption charges against former president and PPP chief

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to dismiss a bail petition of former president Asif Ali Zardari in the mega money laundering and fake bank accounts case by terming it “non-maintainable”.

The bureau submitted an 11-page reply to the PPP co-chairman’s bail plea, stating that he is being investigated over his alleged involvement in different cases, including the fake accounts case.

“Twenty-two inquiries and four references are being probed against Asif Ali Zardari at present,” it said and added there is concrete evidence to substantiate its charges against the former president.

NAB, therefore, contended that Zardari does not deserve any relief in the shape of bails and demanded that his bail be cancelled.

The PPP co-chairman, his sister Faryal Talpur and other accused in the fake bank accounts case had approached the IHC seeking interim bail after a banking court in Karachi transferred the matter to Islamabad on a NAB request.

Lately, the IHC approved the interim bail of Zardari who approached it after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) summoned him in connection with illegal award of water supply contracts of the Sindh government to private firms.

An IHC bench granted bail to Zardari until May 15 against a surety of Rs500,000.

Zardari through his lawyer stated before the court that he is being subjected to political victimisation, adding he has been issued another call-up notice by the bureau.

He pleaded with the court to grant him bail until the conclusion of trial against him in the case and direct NAB to provide details of all the cases being probed by it against him.