Has Zardari run out of cash? Ex-president asks IHC to reduce bail amount
- By Jahangir Aslam -
- May 21, 2019
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted former president Asif Ali Zardari bail in the Harish and Company case.
An IHC bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani approved the bail of the PPP Co-Chairman until June 13 against a surety bond of Rs200,000.
After preliminary hearing, the bench directed the former president to furnish a surety of Rs500,000 to secure the bail.
However, Zardari’s lawyer, Farooq H Naek requested the judge to reduce the bail amount to Rs200,000.
Justice Kayani questioned has Asif Ali Zardari run out of cash? At this, the counsel replied his client had furnished surety bonds in so many cases that he is left with hardly any money.
According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Harish and Company was awarded a contract for water supply by the Sindh government but failed to complete the projects and the public funds were allegedly used to meet the expense of Naudero House.
It is noteworthy that the bureau mulling over a supplementary reference to be filed in the Harish and Company case, nominating former president Asif Ali Zardari as a suspect in it.
Sources relayed the PPP co-chairman will be named an accused person in the reference over his “non-cooperation” with the bureau in its probe into the case.