Asif Ali Zardari seeks presidential immunity in Thatta water supply case

On March 10, Asif Ali Zardari took the oath of office as Pakistan’s President for the second time in history. He defeated Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the SIC-backed candidate.

Asif Ali Zardari was a joint candidate for the ruling alliance, which included the PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, IPP, PML-Q, and the BAP.

The president, through his lawyer Arshad Tabraiz, made a petition in the court of AC Judge Nasir Javed Rana. In his arguments before the court, the PPP co-chairman’s lawyer stated that procedures in the Thatta Water Supply Project case cannot be pursued against his client since he had presidential immunity.

The AC judge later deferred the hearing, notifying the NAB that it will be held on April 22.

It is worth noting that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) nominated Zardari, former secretary Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Ali Akbar, Ejaz Memon, Ali Akbar Abro, Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, Manahil Majeed, and Nadeem Bhutto for the reference.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the issue involves the Special Initiative Department’s improper award of a contract for the Thatta water supply project to a private contractor.