Judge Saghir Ahmed Qadri of the Special Accountability Court announced Zardari’s acquittal in the alleged case of importing a BMW car without paying tax.

Zardari was acquitted due to lack of evidence, according to his counsel, which comprised of advocates Naek and Arshad Tabraiz.

“Truth has prevailed and justice has been done,” Naek said after the verdict was announced. Naek also said it took longer to handle the last case because it was not covered by the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a controversial law passed in October last year by President Pervez Musharraf to grant amnesty in graft cases to PPP leaders, including Zardari and his slain wife Benazir Bhutto.

The differences within the PPP over finalising a PM nominee showed no signs of easing with the once frontrunner and Benazir Bhutto loyalist Fahim insisting he is still a “very strong” contender.

Amin said he was not interested in becoming President or the Speaker of the new National Assembly (NA). But not to to take Zardari head on, Fahim said he would be the first person to support the PPP chairman if he expressed a desire to become PM.

PPP is expected to name its candidate on March 17, when the first session of the new NA will start.
Meanwhile, backroom jostling over sharing of power continued with Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N demanding strategic ministries such as Defence. Sharif’s party and PPP are now jostling for better ministries.

“The cabinet will be kept small in view of the financial problems faced by the country,” said senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who played a key role in negotiations with the PPP on government formation.

But senior leader of PPP Syed Naveed said “it would not be easy sailing for the PPP, PML-N and ANP as they will be inheriting a ruined economy.”