Zardari's plea for exemption accepted.

Byline: SHAHID RAO

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday accepted an application of former president Asif Ali Zardari seeking exemption from his personal appearance before the court in a matter pertaining to laundering of billions of rupees through fake bank accounts.

A division bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducted hearing of the application moved by the leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and deferred the hearing till February 3.

During the hearing, Zardari's counsel Farooq H Naek appeared before the court and stated that it was January 10 when his client was not feeling well, interalia, having chest pain and as such he was taken to Dr Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi for medical checkup and treatment.

He added that after checkup, the doctors advised him to be admitted in hospital for proper medical treatment and as a consequence whereof he was admitted in Dr Ziauddin Hospital in the night of 10th January.

Zardari's counsel adopted that on account of ill-health and being admitted in hospital, the petitioner is unable to appear before the court. He continued that in view of the aforesaid facts, non-appearance of the petitioner before this court is neither intentional, nor deliberate nor wilful. Therefore, he prayed to the court to condone the absence of the petitioner and his client may be exempted from appearing before the court.

After hearing his arguments, the court granted exemption to Zardari for his personal appearance for one day and said that it would decide Zardari's bail plea on...