Asif Ali Zardari: Park Lane reference case status
President of Pakistan (alleged conduct during an earlier PPP government). NAB alleges that Zardari influenced authorities to release a Rs 1.5 billion loan to Parthenon Private Limited, a company it says was a front, causing a Rs 3.77 billion loss to the exchequer.
Status: ChargedHe was indicted in the Park Lane reference in 2020 and pleaded not guilty. On 11 May 2024 an accountability court granted him presidential immunity under Article 248(2), so proceedings against him are halted while he remains President, but the reference has not been decided.
- Country
- Pakistan
- Agency
- National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
- Court
- Accountability court, Islamabad
- Status date
- 11 May 2024
- Amount alleged
- PKR 3,770,000,000
Case history
- ARY News reported that an accountability court indicted him in the Park Lane reference, with Zardari joining by video link and rejecting the charge sheet as baseless.3
- Judge Azam Khan's accountability court indicted him in the Park Lane and Thatta water supply references and he pleaded not guilty, as reported by PTI and Neo News.4,5
- Judge Nasir Javed granted presidential immunity and barred further proceedings against him during his tenure, with no objection from the prosecution.1,2
Response
He pleaded not guilty and called the allegations a vilification campaign, saying "When we are in Opposition, such cases are filed against us" (The Tribune, PTI).
Sources
- Aaj News, Zardari gets presidential immunity in Park Lane, Toshakhana references (11 May 2024)
- The Friday Times, Zardari gets immunity in two corruption cases (11 May 2024)
- ARY News, Asif Ali Zardari indicted in Park Lane reference (10 August 2020)
- The Tribune (PTI), Former Pakistan president Zardari indicted in Park Lane and Thatta water corruption cases (5 October 2020)
- Neo News, AC indicts Asif Ali Zardari in Park Lane, Thatta water supply references (5 October 2020)
An allegation, investigation or charge is not a finding of guilt. Statuses are taken from court and agency records and change as cases move. How we track cases.