Corrupt Billionaire President Zardari ready to face Swiss cases?
Local Sunday, February 21st, 2010- Presidential spokesman denies issue discussed
While the 48-hour deadline set by the Supreme Court regarding the reopening of Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and others expires today (Sunday), the government is yet to make a decision on the issue, thus raising the fear of renewed confrontation with the judiciary.
Though there were reports that President Asif Ali Zardari had given a green signal to the reopening of cases in the Swiss courts in the core committee meeting of the PPP held in the Presidency on Friday night, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar denied the same.
“This is not correct that the Friday meeting took a decision of a legal nature,” he said.
Babar said the Friday night meeting was political in nature to take stock of the political situation and the fast paced developments of last two days.
“Legal issues were not discussed during the meeting as neither the law minister nor the attorney general attended the meeting so the question of legal discussion did not arise,” he said.
Online adds: Changing its political strategy after the settling of issues with the judiciary on the appointment of judges, the government has given a green signal to the Law Ministry and the attorney general to start necessary proceedings for the reopening of the Swiss cases against President Zardari.
A senior PPP leader, who participated in the PPP core committee meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday night, told Online that it was decided that President Asif Ali Zardari would face the Swiss court cases in light of the Supreme Court verdict, adding the Supreme Court verdict would be implemented. However, the SC would be told of the immunity that the president enjoys under the Article 248 of the Constitution.
The senior PPP leader said all participants of the meeting were of the view that the president was given a wrong advice on the judges’ issue and the party would not repeat the same mistakes of confronting the judiciary as it not only causes embarrassment but also spoils the party image. They were of the view that the party needed to improve its image among the public. The PPP would be contesting the LB polls and in order to win the same it was imperative to improve its image.
The senior leader quoted the president as saying that no confrontation with the judiciary would be created. There was nothing in the Swiss cases and since it was the SC order the government would not become obstacle.
When contacted, a federal minister confirmed that the government would not create hurdles in the reopening of the cases and the Law Ministry and the attorney general would be issued orders by Monday to apprise the Swiss government of the Supreme Court verdict and the government willingness of the reopening of the Swiss cases.
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on Feb 21 2010. Filed under