ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday rejected NAB’s appeals against the acquittal of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in four references.

IHC Chief Justice, Athar Minallah remarked the NAB had no case which was on merit. “This court has reminded you a number of times that your appeals are not on merit,” he added.

The NAB proceeded to express his agreement with the CJ’s observation, saying “Yes, this appeal of ours is not on merit. That’s why the relevant authority has approved its withdrawal and now we have requested this honourable court to let us take it back.”

The IHC CJ then inquired did the NAB conduct any inquiry about where had the case record gone? The NAB prosecutor responded that the Bureau had ordered an inquiry into the issue.

A day earlier, the NAB had decided to take back appeals against the acquittal of the former president.

The anti-graft watchdog, in its application, had prayed to the court that further prosecution of the appeals will be a useless exercise as the available documentary evidence was not in accordance with the legal evidence, it added.

The NAB in its plea stated that they hardly had on record even the photocopies of the documents against Asif Zardari.

Asif Zardari had been acquitted in four reference including Ursus Tractors, Polo Ground, and SSG Cotecna. The NAB had challenged the PPP co-chairperson’s acquittal in 2015.