Asif Zardari acquitted in container case

KARACHI: Judge Sindh High Court (SHC) Justice Bin Yameen on Tuesday while giving verdict in container case acquitted Co-Chairman PPP, Asif Ali Zardari and former High Commissioner of Pakistan in Britain Wajid Shamsul Hassan.

The decision was reserved by the Justice Bin Yameen in the last hearing of the case.

Co-Chairman PPP was accused of sending 9 wooden boxes containing precious artifacts and antiques to London for Surrey Place through the container service of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which were received by the then Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London, Wajid Shamsul Hassan.

It was also alleged that custom duty was also not paid.

Lawyer of Asif Ali Zardari in the court argued that the case be dropped on the grounds that the prosecutor failed to provide any proof.

The case was registered against Asif Ali Zardari on the political basis, adding that the court had already acquitted an officer involved in the case. The court on this, acquitted Co-Chairman PPP in the case.

It may be recalled that the case was registered in 1997 against Asif Ali Zardari and Wajid Shams-ul-Hassan.

According to the prosecutor, Asif Zardari was accused of not paying tax duty on the containers. The prosecutor further said that the boxes contained centuries old antiques and swords.

It is important to mention that Asif Ali Zardari was acquitted in all the cases registered in Sindh also including Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Justice (retd) Nizam and Alam Baloch murder cases.

All the corruption cases filed inside and outside of the country were quashed under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and only a drug case against Asif Ali Zardari is under trial in Lahore.