Tuesday, November 05, 2024
Advertisement
  1. You Are At:
  2. News
  3. World
  4. Pak PM tells SC, graft cases against Zardari wll be reopened in Switzerland

Pak PM tells SC, graft cases against Zardari wll be reopened in Switzerland

Islamabad, Sep 18: In a U-turn, Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf today told  the Supreme Court that his government would revoke a letter to Swiss authorities asking for the closure of graft probe against

PTI Updated on: September 18, 2012 12:55 IST

After reviewing all aspects of the matter, Prime Minister said he had decided to revoke the letter written by the former Attorney General and asked the Law Minister to take necessary steps.
 
The premier said he wanted a solution that protects the dignity of both the apex court and the President.
 
He further said the case involves the position of the President and not Zardari personally, and hoped that the apex court would "exercise caution".
 
The bench told the premier that the court should be formally intimated after the Swiss Attorney General was informed of the latest development.
 
It further said the government should show it the draft of the letter to be sent to the Swiss authorities.
 
The court also said there should be no more unnecessary delays in the matter and the government should finalise the draft letter in two to three days.
 
Following a request from Ashraf for more time to draft the letter to be sent to the Swiss authorities, the Supreme Court adjourned the case till September 25.
 
The bench also accepted Ashraf's request to be exempted from future hearings.
 
Speaking to reporters after the hearing that lasted less than 50 minutes, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the premier had asked the Supreme Court to address the government's concerns regarding the case.
 
"The Prime Minister appeared in court and presented his viewpoint and said he was committed to take steps to resolve the matter," he said.
 
The Law Ministry's draft letter to the Swiss authorities will be presented to court and then finalised, Kaira said.
 
"The matter will be resolved and the atmosphere of uncertainty will end. It is not good for the country's system if the Prime Minister repeatedly appears in court," he added.
 
This was Ashraf's second appearance in the apex court to face the contempt charge.
 
At the last hearing on August 27, a five-judge bench accepted Ashraf's plea for more time to address the issue. Ashraf's predecessor, Gilani, was convicted of contempt and disqualified in June.
Advertisement

Read all the Breaking News Live on indiatvnews.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from World

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement