ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Accountability Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on whether to refer the Toshakhan reference against President Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The judge in charge of the court, Abida Sajjad, heard the case brought by the anti-graft body, which includes former prime ministers and the acting head of state, and set a sentencing date for October 14. The case relates to a 2020 reference filed by NAB against the trio, which alleged that President Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz obtained vehicles from Toshakan by paying 15% of the cost of the cars – all with the help of Gilani. During today’s hearing, President Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek said that the said court has no jurisdiction to hear the case after NAB’s amendments and therefore it should be sent back to the anti-graft body. “Earlier, such a case was sent back to NAB,” the counsel said. To this, the NAB prosecutor said that if the case does not fall under the jurisdiction of the competent court, the merits of the case will not be heard and the court must decide whether the case should be referred back to the national action body. . The case against President Zardari cannot proceed as he enjoys presidential immunity, the prosecutor noted, adding that the case against him will be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The NAB official further asked the court to return Nawaz’s case back to the watchdog and keep the stay order under the President’s purview.
