Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (43332)	9/17/2002 2:21:02 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

A truck load of documents presented against the great democrat.. A prosecution witness on Monday presented documentary evidences against former Senator Asif Ali Zardari before an accountability court here. The evidences comprised documents obtained by the National Accountability Bureau through the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) arrangement from England. It is for the first time in country's legal history that the NAB has obtained documentary evidences against any accused from England and Switzerland. These original documents have been provided to Pakistan under MLA by the courts of England and Switzerland. These documents relate to transactions in Swiss bank accounts, offshore companies accounts and Rockwood estate in Surrey. The accountability court set up in Attock Fort was presided over by Judge Chaudhry Mazhar Hussain Minhas. Azmat Saeed appeared on behalf of the NAB, while the accused was represented by Advocate Farooq Haq Nayk. The former senator was brought to Attock Fort amid tight security in an ambulance from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. The NAB also brought a huge trunk loaded with documentary evidence in a van to the court. The evidence comprises 82 volumes that translate into more than 8,000 documents and over 20,000 pages. The court began recording the statement of prosecution witness Barrister Jawad Mirza who handed over the documents to the investigation officer. Mirza is the 33rd witness in the assets case and during the previous hearing 37 documents were submitted before the court. Monday's evidences were based on documents obtained from England containing the testimony of two witnesses before the Bow Street Magistrate of England. The defence counsel challenged the validity of the documents. Counsel for NAB Azmat Saeed told APP that counsel for Zardari had also appeared before Bow Street Magistrate of England to defend the evidence against his client, but his pleas were turned down there. He said the other documents have been sent by the High Bailiff of Isle of Man and Examining Magistrate of Court of Switzerland. After recording the evidence the court rose to reconvene on Friday. Later accused Asif Ali Zardari was shifted to Islamabad. The assets reference was filed against Zardari on February 25, 1998 by then Ehtesab Bureau in the Lahore High Court, which was subsequently transferred to the accountability court. The estimated value of the unearthed assets owned by Zardari is to the tune of $ 1.5 billion.