The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday gave Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf time till July 25 to comply with its order to write to the Swiss authorities asking them to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Taking a dim view of the Prime Minister’s response to the court’s question whether he intended to write the letter, a five-judge Bench noted that if he failed to comply by July 25, “this court may initiate any appropriate action under the Constitution and the law.’’
Presenting the Premier’s response to the court’s query, the Attorney-General said the federal Cabinet had referred the matter to the Law Ministry. Pointing out that the process of consultation was undertaken during the tenure of the former Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, the court said, “We are constrained to observe that we find it difficult to appreciate or accept the said response of the Prime Minister.’’
The seven-page order passed in the National Reconciliation Ordinance case indicated the possibility of Mr. Ashraf meeting Mr. Gilani’s fate. Mr. Gilani was convicted for contempt of court and disqualified as Prime Minister by the court for not writing the letter.
In Thursday’s judgment, the bench said: “It goes without saying that all the directions issued by this court during the implementation proceedings apply with equal force to the present incumbent of the office of the Prime Minister as he has merely stepped into the shoes of his predecessor in office and, thus, he too is bound to implement the relevant directions of this court “regardless of any advice tendered earlier or in future.”
The Pakistan Peoples Party-led government has refused to write the letter on the premise that it would be in violation of the Constitution as the President enjoys immunity while in office. The court has been insisting on the letter being written after it annulled the NRO – an amnesty law promulgated by the Musharraf regime – in 2009.
Keywords: Pakistan Supreme Court, Asif Ali Zardari, graft cases, Raja Pervez Ashraf, deadline, reopen of graft cases, Swiss authorities, Yousuf Raza Gilani
@Nileen, Totally agree. We would love to see zardari going to jail and spend rest of his life rotting in the jail. Unfortunately its not just zardari its the whole current political class that is part of this system and they support each other. Because they know if zardari goes then it'll be their turn next. But I am very optimistic that this time they will be defeated and we will finally have a true leader after so many decades.
Nice article! The Supreme Court of Pakistan seems good. I hope they
persist in forcing "Mr. Ten Per Cent" to enjoy another round of jail,
maybe for ten years this time. Surely, Pakistan has enough talent to
have a sincere person as President: the land is being scorched by filth.
Unlike in India,where the LAW provides a blanket immunity to top
govt officials including President and also the Prime Minister for
all the wrong doings committed knowingly or unknowingly,the
Pakistan's apex Court seems unrelenting in its efforts to bring
none other than its President unto the law,by reopening the graft
cases against him is laudable indeed.Many loop holes existed in the
Indian law let some of the politicians go scot free,not
withstanding their involvement in many graft cases, which is
unfortunate.
"PPP leaders and legal experts have accused the Chief Justice of acting in a biased manner by pursing cases only against Zardari and his party"
If Zardari can be nailed successfully, it will pave the way for nailling others. If the top can be cleaned, the rest can be expected to right itself.
I only hope that it doesn't give Kayani an excuse to take over the country as dictator.
It is not good for the future and democracy of pakistan.Now there will be a fight and confrontation between judiciary and executive on this particlar issue. It seems that chief justice of pak has a political venedetta against president Zardari.The new bill passed by senate ,assembly and signed by president has provided sufficient immunity to president.Now it will be intersting to see what course of action is adopted by executive and judiciary.
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