Pak accountability court re-opens six corruption cases against Zardari

Islamabad – A Pakistani Accountability Court (AC) has re-opened six pending corruption cases against former President Asif Ali Zardari.

The AC-1 Islamabad Judge Bashir Ahmed ordered the reopening of six pending National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references against Zardari and directed Prosecutor General (Accountability) K K Agha and Zardari to respond within two weeks, the Nation reports.

Newly-appointed NAB chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has directed to pursue the cases sincerely, warning the prosecutors against any delay, the report added.

These NAB references had been deferred and put on hold on January 28, 2010, as Zardari was enjoying constitutional immunity at that time.

According to the report, the anti-graft cases are being pursued in the light of the Supreme Court judgement on the National Reconciliation Ordinance as Zardari has no more legal immunity.

The references against Zardari, includes receiving of kickbacks and commissions from SGS, pre-shipment Cotechna case, Ursus Tractors case, issuance of licences to ARY Traders for import of gold and silver, and illegal construction of a polo ground and other ancillary work at the PM House.