ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has told Islamabad High Court that a key, missing witness of two references of corruption against ex-president and co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Asif Ali Zardari, is now available to give his statement.
During the hearing of a petition filed against the acquittal of Asif Ali Zardari in ARY Gold and Ursus Tractor corruption references, the Additional Deputy Prosecutor General (ADGP), Chauhadry Riaz told the court that he was not able to contact with Hassan Waseem Afzal, ex-joint Secretary of accountability cell during the previous government.
According to Chauhadry Riaz, Hassan Waseem Afzal, the co-defendant in corruption references against Zardari, was called many times in the court during proceedings but he neither responded nor came to the court. He added nobody even knew of his whereabouts at that time.
Riaz further said that the prosecutor had to exclude Hassan Waseem Afzal from the list of witnesses due to unavailability of the aforesaid witness. The division bench comprising Justice Noor-ul-Haq and Justice Amir Farooq said that arrest warrant can be issued for the witness’ attendance in court on behalf of the prosecutor.
On the other hand, the court ordered NAB to present the record court proceedings of ARY Gold and Ursus corruption references within two weeks.
