Bhutto's husband granted bail
22/11/2004 - 10:10:28Pakistan’s Supreme Court today granted bail to the jailed husband of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, paving the way for his release, a defence lawyer said.
Lawyer Farooq Naek said Asif Ali Zardari, who has been jailed since 1996, has now been granted bail in all the corruption cases against him.
He said and that once the surety of one million rupees (€17,000) had been submitted, he would be freed unless state prosecutors submitted any new case against him.
“The court has accepted his bail,” said Farooq. “I hope they will not make a new case against him. I can’t tell you if they will or not.”
A court official, confirmed Zardari had been granted bail.
Farooq said the bail bond would have to be submitted to the original trial court, and the process could be complete today or tomorrow.
Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, but her governments were dismissed in 1990 and 1996 for alleged corruption. She lives in exile, but still heads the Pakistan People’s Party, one of the country’s main opposition groups.
In September, a court overturned Zardari’s conviction for receiving kickbacks from the state-run Pakistan Steel Mills in 1995, during his wife’s tenure, for which he was sentenced for seven years.
However, he has remained in custody awaiting trial on at least nine other corruption and criminal cases, all registered against him since 1996. Bhutto’s party contends the cases are politically-motivated.
Farooq said Zardari had now been granted bail in all the cases. The last case against him involved the import of a bullet-proof BMW car. It is alleged he evaded duty on the import of the vehicle.
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