Court quashes corruption charge against Bhutto widower

Lawyers in Pakistan said today that a court has quashed another corruption charge against Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

A judge in an anti-corruption court yesterday terminated a case relating to alleged kickbacks on a government contract with a Swiss firm when Ms Bhutto was in power.

Defence lawyer Farooq Naek said the court will rule on Friday on the last charge outstanding in Pakistan against his client.

The court quashed five charges against Mr Zardari last week under an ordinance passed last year by President Pervez Musharraf.

Ms Bhutto’s party finished first in parliamentary elections last month and is set to lead the next government. Mr Zardari is its co-chairman.