Bail petition: IHC orders PIMS to form medical board to look into Zardari’s ailment

• High court has directed to include Zardari’s personal physician in the medical board.
• IHC wants the medical board to submit a report by December 11.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered on Wednesday the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to form a medical board to look into former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s ailment.

During the hearing today, a two-member bench presided by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah took up the petition which sought Zardari’s bail on medical grounds. Zardari's lawyer Farooq H Naek submitted his client's medical reports, local media reported.

The IHC has ordered PIMS to constitute a medical board to determine the former president's health and also include Zardari’s personal physician in the board too. The high court has adjourned the hearing till December 11 and directed that a report be submitted in the next hearing.

On Tuesday, the PPP leader filed for bail on medical grounds in the two cases filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Zardari submitted two separate requests for bail in the Park Lane and money laundering references against him. He requested that he be given bail till the completion of the trial against him.

NAB arrested the PPP co-chairman on June 10 after the IHC rejected a plea by Zardari seeking an extension in his interim bail in the case. Following the arrest he was remanded into NAB's custody and later into Adiala Jail. Later, Zardari moved an accountability court seeking to be shifted to Karachi for treatment. However, the accountability court rejected his transfer plea.