(Karachi) An Accountability Court in Islamabad has granted former president Asif Ali Zardari exemption from personal appearance in the Park Lane reference, local media has reported.

Accountability Judge Azam Khan issued the verdict on Zardari's plea.

During hearing, Counsel for Zardari, Farooq H Naek, requested the court to grant his client exemption from personal appearance in today’s hearing. All co-accused, except one named Sher Ali, nominated in the case were in attendance in court.

The main reference in the Park Lane case accused Zardari of influencing relevant authorities during his tenure as the president – from 2008 to 2013 – to get loans for his front companies.

The former president allegedly got a loan of Rs1.5 billion released for Parthenon Private Limited “with ill intention”, and the money was later transferred for his personal use through fake bank accounts.

NAB accused the former president of causing the national exchequer a loss of Rs3.77 billion. In its 13-page long reference, NAB alleged that the accused created benami properties through Park Lane Company using Parthenon Private Limited as the front.