ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard former President Asif Ali Zardari’s pre-arrest bail application on Tuesday, while an appeal for his medical exemption from court hearings was also submitted, according to Geo News.
After the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) started an inquiry into a New York apartment reportedly held by Zardari, he submitted a bail petition.
The pre-arrest bail case was considered by a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq.
Naik argued that the former president was unable to attend in court owing to health issues and asked the judge to give him bail in the NAB investigation while he was away. Zardari, he said, was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Karachi.
During the hearing, the judge questioned how a bail request could be considered without Zardari present. Zardari’s lawyer, Farooq H Naik, responded by requesting two further days for his client to appear in court.
The court, however, turned down Zardari’s request to hear his pre-arrest bail application in his absence. In response to the statements, Justice Aamer Farooq stated that in pre-arrest bail cases, the applicant’s presence is required.
Following the judge’s comments, Naik stated that Zardari will appear in court tomorrow (July 7) and will be transported there via air ambulance. The matter will be heard 07-07-2021by the court.