Zardari acquitted in corruption case

The accountability court Wednesday acquitted former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari in the polo ground corruption case, a media report said.

The court said in its verdict that the accused had not been proven guilty so far, Dawn online reported Wednesday.

The court stated that evidence against Zardari was not sufficient for further proceedings.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reopened a reference case last year, over the construction of a polo ground, along with ancillary works at the Prime Minister House during the tenure of Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s, on the verbal orders of her husband Zardari to CDA chairmen Saeed Mehdi and Shafi Sehwani at an estimated cost of Pakistan Rs.52.29 million (around $529,360).

The bureau held it as illegal and in violation of the rights and privileges that were afforded to Zardari.

In February, the court had reserved its judgment on the application of the former president seeking acquittal in the corruption reference, the report said.

The NAB in the reference nominated the two former CDA chairmen as the principal accused.

Zardari served as the 11th president of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013 and presently, is the co-chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party.