Asif Zardari files acquittal plea in Toshakhana reference

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday has filed a plea in the accountability court for his acquittal in the Toshakhana reference.

Barrister Shiraz Rajpar filed an application under the amended ordinance which stated that Zardari is a former President of Pakistan and current Member National Assembly who is not innocent and has been unjustly accused in the reference on account of political victimization.

The petition further stated that NAB made false and baseless cases against the former president and he is expecting justice from the judiciary.

The petition also maintained that the reference after the new ordinance does not fall under the jurisdiction of the accountability court.

Zardari requested the accountability court to terminate the reference and return it to the concerned institution.

Read more: Toshakhana Case: Nawaz declared ‘proclaimed offender’; Zardari, Gillani indicted

In September last year, the accountability court had indicted Zardari along with ex-premier Yousaf Raza Gilani in the Toshakhana (gift depository) reference.

The anti-graft watchdog accused the former president of illegally retaining valuable vehicles gifted by various foreign states and dignitaries instead of depositing them in the Toshakhana.

According to the NAB, Zardari retained the expensive vehicles after paying a  nominal payment of 15% of their total value by using his fake accounts, however, Libya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also gifted him cars when serving as president.

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