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$ 84m corruption case SHC quashes proceedings against AZ

KARACHI: The proceedings in 84 million dollars corruption case against accused/appellant Asif Ali Zardari was quashed by a bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Amanullah Abbasi.

The bench was hearing an appeal preferred by Senator Asif Ali Zardari seeking quashment of the proceedings pending trial before the Federal Anti-Corruption Court, Central I.

According to the prosecution Senator Asif Ali Zardari, spouse of the then prime minister Benazir Bhutto using his influence forced the KESC's Board of Directors to award a consultancy contract worth US dollar 84 million to Messrs Laymayer Consultants for consultancy regarding sixth power project.

Farooq H. Naek appearing for the appellant maintained that the accused/appellant was a private person and no state property was entrusted to him. Thus the Anti-Corruption Act is not attracted in the matter and accused cannot be tried for the alleged offences.

The bench agreeing with the contentions of the appellants' counsel allowed the appeal.

The co-accused include Majid Bashir, Ghani Ansari and Javed Pasha will be facing trial after the proceedings against the accused Senator were quashed. Another co-accused Najamul Hasan Burney, former Cheif Engineer of KESC has been absolved of corruption charge on an application moved by the prosecution.

ENQUIRY REPORT'S COPY DEMANDED

Farooq H Naek, counsel for Asif Ali Zardari on Friday requested the Home Secretary Sindh to provide copy of the enquiry report by DJ Malir pertaining to alleged suicide attempt case registered against Zardari.

"Persuant to the order of a division bench of SHC you are requested to supply the copy of the enquiry report of the enquiry officer District and Sessions Judge Malir within the period of seven days commencing from the date of the said order (dated march 29), Naek said in a letter addressed and despatched to Home Secretary Sindh this morning.

Earlier a division bench of high Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Syed Deedear Hussain Shah and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Wednesday directed the Home Secretary Sindh to provide a copy of tribunal of enquiry headed by District and Sessions Judge Malir to accused/applicant Asif Ali Zardari withhin a week.

The bench was deciding a constitutional petition filed by Zardaro who was accused of committing suicide while in custody of CIA police investigating team probing the murder case of Justice Nizam Ahmed and his only son Nadeem Ahmed.

Both the deceased were allegedly gunned down over a property dispute regarding a plot adjacent to Awami Markaz, karachi off Shahrea Faisal.

Earlier the bench rejected the plea of the Sindh Government that the report of enquiry is a confidential matter and thus cannot be made public or issued to anybody else. Farooq H. Naek appeared for the applicant Zardari. APP