Zardari acquitted in last case

LAHORE-PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday was acquitted of 11 year old drug case registered against him during the second tenure of the then PM Mian Nawaz Sharif, now his coalition partner in govt.

This was the last pending case against Zardari as he had already been acquitted  in a number of criminal and corruption cases under National Reconciliation Ordinance. An Additional District and Sessions Judge Ijaz Hussain Awan also acquitted Arif Baloch, the main accused of the case observing that the prosecution failed to establish charges against both the accused.

The court passed acquittal order on an application submitted by Zardari's counsel under Section 265-K of CrPC for acquittal of PPP Co-Chairperson on the ground that prosecution had failed to establish charges against the accused despite the lapse of 11 years. The application was pending since last year.

The court had the power to acquit an accused during the trial on the basis of insufficient evidence against him. Asif Zardari who was on bail in the case did not appear before the court as he had been exempted from personal appearance. Khurram Latif Khosa advocate represented him.

On Monday, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa advocate who appeared on behalf of Zardari and argued that the drug case against his client was the result of political victimisation as the former PM Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who was Interior Minister at time of lodging of the case, had also admitted that the cases against Zardari were registered as the result of political rivalry.

He said that no recovery was made from Zardari while the statement of under-trial prisoner in a theft case was converted into FIR.

He pointed out that the then Investigation Officer of the case, Ashiq Marth, had also admitted that the FIR was registered under influence.

Special prosecutor Aazar Latif Khan, a member of Pakistan People's lawyers Forum supported arguments of Khosa saying there was not single piece of evidence available on record that could suggest that Zardari's involvement in drug peddling. He argued none of prosecution witnesses(seven in total) made a statement against the accused. He informed the court that prosecution would have no objection if the court accepts acquittal application of the accused, State counsel added.

After hearing the arguments the judge ordered to acquit Asif Ali Zardari and other accused.

As the judge announced his verdict the PPP workers and lawyers present in the court room chanted slogans. They chanted slogans 'Zinda hey Bhutto Zinda hey', 'Zardari terey jaan nisar, beshumar, beshumar'.

This was the last case against PPP Co-Chairman as all the criminal and corruption cases against him had been dismissed or withdrawn under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

The drug case against Asif Zardari was made when he was in police custody in other cases. In 1998 the Lahore Qila Gujjar Singh police had arrested one Arif Baloch who during custody made a confessional statement that Zardari used to provide them drugs for sale.

When Zardari was out of country, the court had twice issued his non-bailable arrest warrants and had directed the police to arrest the accused and produce him. The Court had also issued a show-cause notice to the guarantor of Zardari and directed him to make necessary arrangements for the appearance of accused before the court, otherwise, his surety bond will be forfeited by the State. One co-accused in this case, Showrang Khan died on May 20, 2005.