An accountability court in Islamabad has summoned former president and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and 14 others in connection with Thatta Water Supply reference, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
AC Judge Muhammad Bashir conducted hearing of the case on Wednesday and issued summons to all the accused, directing them to appear in the court on December 18.
Other accused involved in the case are former secretary Ijaz Ahmad Khan, Ali Akbar, Ijaz Memon, Ali Akbar Abro, Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, Manahil Majeed and Abdul Nadeem Bhutto.
In January, an accountability court in the federal capital had sent back the corruption reference against Asif Zardari to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The judge had announced the verdict reserved after hearing arguments from both sides, saying the reference did not fall under the jurisdiction of the accountability court after amendments to the NAB laws.
It is pertinent to note here that the anti-graft body nominated Zardari, Ejaz Ahmed Khan, and other suspects in the supplementary reference filed in connection with Thatta Water Supply scam. The Bureau had not nominated Zardari in the interim reference and Ashfaq Leghari and Incharge Naudero House Nadeem Bhutto in the interim reference.
The Thatta water supply reference was part of the fake accounts and money laundering case filed by the NAB against the PPP leader. It pertained to the alleged illegal awarding of contracts to private contractors for the water scheme.
Reporter Farzana Siddique