Tough times ahead for Zardari, Musharraf
After Nawaz Sharif, it appears the Supreme Court is set to give former presidents — Asif Ali Zardari and Pervez Musharraf — a tough time, as a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, sought details of their local and foreign properties.
The apex court also sought details of their bank accounts, which they owned since 2007 along with an affidavit.
The bench also asked former attorney-general Malik Qayyum to furnish the same details on affidavit for the same period (2007-2018).
It also directed Asif Ali Zardari, Pervez Musharraf and Malik Abdul Qayyam to file detailed statements of their assets and bank accounts operated by them and their spouses over the past 10 years.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the apex court termed their affidavits ‘incomplete’.
For the first time, the apex court also sought details of properties owned by Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Asifa and Bakhtawar since 2007.
The court also asked Zardari to share details of properties that might have been owned through arrangement of a trust.
Legal experts said that if Zardari’s assets did not match with details mentioned in his nomination papers, he might face a lifetime disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.
Similarly, he would also face difficulty if the apex court sought the source of funds to purchase those properties.
“You have been provided laundry for getting clearance,” the chief justice asked Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek, who appeared visibly upset when the bench called for details of properties owned by his clients since 2007.
He said that Zardari’s only fault was that he was a politician. He wondered how much longer he would have to face trials on the basis of such frivolous petitions.
When Naek wondered why the bench was seeking more details, the chief justice replied: “You [Zardari] are a public office holder. We want to gauge your honesty under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution”
Naek replied that Zardari was acquitted after remaining in prison for nine years. “Even now, NAB’s appeals are pending in the Islamabad High Court.”
“Who will return his nine years during which he was in jail and not allowed to meet his wife and children?” Zardari’s attorney asked the bench.
Expressing concern, he said that if he submitted the details, an inquiry might be launched about his assets.
Zardari’s trial, he said, had been continuing since 1997.
“Even his trial was conducted in Attock jail. Who will compensate his nine years of imprisonment?” he again asked.
In response, the chief justice said that if he satisfied the court, compensation might not be given in financial terms, but he would gain a certificate by the apex court.
“This will be a complete vindication.”
Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked: “If you are clear, you will get a clear vindication.”
In a lighter vein, Naek said: “Once bitten, twice shy.”
He reiterated that Zardari had been acquitted in the assets case and the high court should be allowed to adjudicate the matter.
However, Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked that Zardari had been acquitted because of lack of evidence.
“Your (Zardari’s) affidavit is incomplete. It is creating doubts”, he adds.
He said that he should furnish details of all properties, even those which were owned by any trust, adding that such trusts also needed to be examined as it has been witnessed in one case (Jahangir Tareen’s disqualification), in which the respondent had claimed that he was not a trustee but it was found that he was the actual beneficial owner of that trust.
The bench also asked Naek to share details of his clients’ Swiss bank accounts.
Major (retd) Akhtar Shah advocate, who appeared on behalf of General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, submitted an unsigned and unattested statement about the former army chief’s immoveable and moveable properties and bank accounts abroad.
According to the statement Musharraf owned an apartment worth 5.4 million UAE dirhams in Dubai, a 2015 Mercedes car worth 230,000 UAE dirhams, 2017 Tahoe Jeep worth 150,000 UAE dirhams, a 2018 Impala car worth 130,000 UAE dirhams. He had two bank accounts – Union National Bank Dubai with 92,100 UAE dirhams, United Bank on 2 Brook Street in London with £21,550 and shares in Dana Gas worth 268,653 UAE dirhams.
The chief justice remarked that Musharraf could not have purchased the apartment he owned in Dubai even if all his salaries were combined.
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