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Container case

hearing adjourned

KARACHI: The hearing of the Artifacts Smuggling case, commonly known as Container case and KESC case, against the suspended senator Asif Ali Zardari was put off till February 2, by special Federal Anti Corruption Court (FAC), Central II and I respectively.

Earlier, Mohammed Afzal Khan, senior Special Judge, Federal Anti Corruption Court, Central II agreed to a proposal by the counsel for Zardari, Farooq H Naek and Abu Bakar Zardari Advocate to hold hearing of both the case on same date considering the security aspects.

The Senior Special Judge while putting off the matter, however, allowed an application by the accused Senator. In this application he asked for the permission from the court to allow him to sit in front seat of the APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) in which he was brought to the court from the Central Prison Karachi.

The court, earlier, persued the comments from the medical officer of the jail, who confirmed that Zardari was suffering from spinal chord problem.

The FAC court has been stayed from further proceedings in the Container case. The case pertains to alleged smuggling of eight huge wooden boxes from Bilawal House Karachi to Surrey Palace London allegedly owned by the former ruling couple of Ms Benazir Bhutto and Senator Asif Ali Zardari. The consignment allegedly contained antiques and other precious decorative articles worth millions of rupees.

The second case which was adjourned on Friday pertains to alleged misappropriation of $85 million given by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the system improvement plan of the KESC.ÑAPP