ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: An accountability court in Islamabad on Saturday acquitted the former President Asif Ali Zardari in two National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references including Ursus tractor and ARY Gold.
The accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir heard the NAB references against the former president and the Co-Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Islamabad on Saturday.
The court had reserved the judgment in its last hearing.
The accountability court judge has set the hearing for the SGS and Cotecna references on December 17.
The former president had already been acquitted in the polo ground NAB reference on May 28 this year by the same accountability court.
NAB references against Zardari
Polo ground case: This reference builds upon the construction of a polo ground along with ancillary works at the Prime Minister House, which NAB says are illegal and in violation of the rights and privileges afforded to him.
SGS: This corruption case is the continuance of a reference filed in 1997 that accused the late Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Zardari to have gained off a contract between the SGS and the government.
ARY: This reference revolves around granting of trade licenses to ARY Traders for importing gold and silver which NAB says has caused losses to the treasury.
Ursus tractors: This reference deals with alleged corruption during the import of Russian and Polish tractors.
Cotecna: This case is about the award of a contract to the Swiss company after allegedly receiving six per cent bribe on the revenue proceeds.