ISLAMABAD:An Accountability Court (AC) Friday sought legal assistance regarding its jurisdiction under new ordinance in mega money laundering reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.

Defence lawyer Arshad Tabraiz objected that after the NAB amendment ordinance, this case did not fall under the jurisdiction of accountability court.

At this the court instructed the counsel to assist with legal points on the next hearing regarding his objections.

AC-II Judge Muhammad Azam Khan heard the reference connected with fake bank accounts scam. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor Irfan Bhola and defence lawyers appeared before the court. The court also granted one day exemption from hearing to former president Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed on their requests. The hearing of the case then adjourned till November 3.

The same court also sought assistance from NAB investigation officer regarding jurisdiction in reference pertaining to Grand Hayat Hotel’s plot allotment.

The lawyers had adopted the stance that their clients had not been public office holder in the past thus the case did not fall in NAB’s jurisdiction.