Zardari irked by NAB chairman's 'political interview': Lawai's bail plea turned down

Former President and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said that Chairman National Accou-ntability Bureau (NAB) Justice Javed Iqbal (retd) has no right to give a political interview and he will take legal action against him.
"The post of chairman NAB does not allow him to give such an interview but he did and I will take legal action against him," Zardari further said when he asked by a media person that NAB chief has mentioned him (Zardari) in his interview. He was talking to media persons after appearing before Accountability Court in the fake bank account case.
Zardari said that under the law, the accused is the favourite child of the court unless there is proof of guilt. "Right now no one is guilty and NAB is presenting people handcuffed before the court. They are producing 80-year-old bankers handcuffed and then you say economy is not functioning," he said.
Earlier, Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other accused in the case appeared before Accountability Court judge Muhammad Arshad Malik. The judge while hearing the case marked attendance of the accused. During the course of hearing, Zardari's counsel Farooq H Naeek raised objection over presenting Hussain Lawai handcuffed in the court and termed it against the law. This is the violation of order of Supreme Court and chairman NAB should not handcuff the accused until guilt is proved, he said.
He requested the court to direct jail authorities not to handcuff the accused person. Naeek told the judge, "The accused is now in your custody and, therefore, you should issue an order to remove handcuffs." NAB Prosecutor Waqar Abbasi told the court that the accused has been handcuffed by jail authorities. The NAB does not handcuff accused while presenting them before the court, he said.
The court ordered police to remove handcuffs and not to handcuff accused inside the court. The court also summoned jail superintendent to explain why the accused is handcuffed. The judge while showing annoyance over non-production of accused Anwar Majeed and Ghani Majeed issued a show cause notice to chief secretary Sindh and superintendent Malir Jail. The court asked that both persons should appear personally to explain the reasons behind non-compliance with the court order.
Investigation Officer (IO) Muhammad Ali Abro told the court that NAB had written letters to chief secretary Sindh and Malir jail superintendent with respect to production of two accused Anwar and Ghani Majeed but Bureau has not so for received their response.
The counsel for Lawai and Talha Raza submitted an application before the court seeking bail for his clients. He said they were arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). He pleaded the court to release them against submission of surety bonds as they are cooperating in the probe. The NAB prosecutor opposed their bail pleas and said the case has been transferred to them by the FIA and investigation is under way.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court turned down bail application of Hussain Lawai and Talha Raza. At the outset of the hearing, Naek urged the court to order NAB to provide copies of the reference to all accused. The court inquired from investigation officer about copies of reference and he told the court that he will submit copies of reference two days prior to the next hearing.
After the distribution of paper books of the case, the court will indict the accused on the next hearing. There are a total of 30 accused including Zardari, Talpur, Hussain Lawai, Taha Raza, Anwar Majeed, Abdul Ghani Majeed, Noreen Sultan, Kiran Aman, Adeel Shah Rashidi, Muhammad Ashraf, Qasim Ali, Shahzad Ali, Sher Muhammad, Zain Malik, Iqbal Khan Noori, Nimr Majeed, Mustafa Zulqarnain, Aslam Masood, Muhammad Arif Khan, Nassar Abdullah, Adnan Javed, Muhammad Umair, Iqbal Arian, Azam Wazir Khan, Christopher D Craz, Muhammad Nasir Sheikh, Ghanzanfar Ahsan, Sawoodi Morkas, Muhammad Raheel Mobin, and Ali Kamal Majeed. The court later adjourned hearing of the case till May 30. The law enforcement agencies made strict security in and around the court premises on the occasion.