ISLAMABAD: An accountability court of Islamabad will indict former president, Asif Ali Zardari, and former prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani, in ‘’Toshakha’ case. The court ordered the accused to appear personally before the court on hearing fixed for September 9, 2020 for their indictment in the case.
Bothm Asif Ali Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gilanim were present in the accountability court with their counsels, Farooq H Nike and Latif Khosa, during August 17, hearing.
Top leadership of both major political parties—PPP and PMLN is facing similar cases of ‘Toshakhana’ for allegedly not depositing precious gifts in ‘Toshakhana’ which they received as state guests during their visit to different countries in their respective regimes. PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif has already moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for filing ‘Thoshakhana’ case against him. Unlike PMLN top leadership, PPP leadership in particular, former president, Asif Ali Zardari decided to face the NAB in the court and fight it out after winning the legal battle. ASIF Ali Zardari’s indictment in ‘Toshakhana’ case if the accountability court goes forward with its schedule plan to indict him on September 9, 2020 will be second indictment in NAB references during the last couple of weeks. Earlier the same accountability court had indicted former president in Thatha water corruption case through the video link. On August 17, former president turned-up physically to appear before the accountability court in ‘Toshakhana’ case. He was accompanied by PPP chairman Balawal Zardari and a good number of PPP top leaders. While, former president had been in the accountability court in Islamabad for the hearing, party leaders including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sheri Rehman, Aslam Gill, Farhat Ullah Babar, Ch Manzoor, Ajaz Saman, Faisal Kareem kundi, Ch Pervez were present outside the court to express moral support to top party leadership. After the hearing, PPP chairman, Balawal Zardari, told mediamen outside the court that PPP will not bow down to mounting pressure and will keep fighting for the rights of the people. He said PPP leadership was being pressurized through NAB for pressing it down to change its stance on 18th amendment, National Finance Commission (NFC) and right of Sindh province, but it will never happen.