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Summons issued to Benazir, Asif Zardari

B. Muralidhar Reddy

A slander campaign, says the Pakistan People's Party

ISLAMABAD: A judge in Pakistan on Wednesday issued summons to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, on references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the alleged `false declarations' by them before the Election Commission in 1995 and 1996.

As per the references, Ms. Bhutto had admitted, during the last hearing in Geneva on charges of money laundering, that she owned assets and properties abroad in 1995 and 1996 when she submitted the declarations of assets. The reference on Mr. Zardari is also on the same lines.

"This new admission of ownership on January 16, 2006 has now changed the situation," the NAB plea said. According to the complaints, Mr. Zardari and Ms. Bhutto have committed an offence under Sections 199 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 82 of the Representation of the People Act 1976.

District and Sessions Judge of Islamabad admitted the complaints. "I have heard the preliminary arguments and have gone through the preliminary evidence produced by the prosecution. I am satisfied that a prima facie case is made out under Section 82 of the Representation of the People Act 1976 read with Section 199 of PPC against the accused Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari. I order issue of their summons for June 3, 2006 for appearance before this court," the judge said.

Reacting to the development, a spokesperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) described it as yet another attempt to tarnish the public image of the former Prime Minister.

"If Ms. Bhutto has mis-declared assets before the CEC as is alleged then it is for the Chief Election Commissioner to give notice to her and seek her comments. It is strange that the NAB should go in complaint to the Sessions Judge and even stranger that the Sessions Judge should promptly issue summons. Frustrated with the refusal of Ms. Bhutto to give up her fight against military dictatorship and not take part in the next elections and to disguise its frustration the regime has resorted to yet another slander campaign," the spokesperson said.

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Summons issued to Benazir, Asif Zardari

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