Graft case: Pakistan PM gets more time
Source: Agencies |
August 28, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN'S Supreme Court yesterday adjourned a case that could see Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf being formally charged with contempt of court and disqualified.
Ashraf appeared in court in Islamabad over his failure to comply with orders to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The case has fuelled tension in a long-running standoff between the government and an increasingly assertive judiciary. The court adjourned proceedings until September 18.
It said Ashraf must ensure a letter is written to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen corruption cases against Zardari. Justice Asif Khosa said Ashraf did not have to write the letter himself. He could nominate someone else to write it.
"I will make a sincere effort to solve this issue in a way that the dignity and honor of the Supreme Court will be maintained," Ashraf said.
Ashraf's predecessor Yusuf Raza Gilani was declared in contempt of court in June over the same issue and disqualified as prime minister. If Ashraf is disqualified, the ruling Pakistan People's Party can simply name a replacement since it has a huge majority in parliament.
Thousands of corruption cases were thrown out in 2007 by an amnesty law passed under former military president Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for a return to civilian rule.
Two years later, the Supreme Court ruled that agreement illegal, and ordered the reopening of money laundering cases against Zardari that involved Swiss bank accounts.
The government has refused to obey the court's order, arguing Zardari had immunity as the head of state.
Ashraf appeared in court in Islamabad over his failure to comply with orders to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The case has fuelled tension in a long-running standoff between the government and an increasingly assertive judiciary. The court adjourned proceedings until September 18.
It said Ashraf must ensure a letter is written to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen corruption cases against Zardari. Justice Asif Khosa said Ashraf did not have to write the letter himself. He could nominate someone else to write it.
"I will make a sincere effort to solve this issue in a way that the dignity and honor of the Supreme Court will be maintained," Ashraf said.
Ashraf's predecessor Yusuf Raza Gilani was declared in contempt of court in June over the same issue and disqualified as prime minister. If Ashraf is disqualified, the ruling Pakistan People's Party can simply name a replacement since it has a huge majority in parliament.
Thousands of corruption cases were thrown out in 2007 by an amnesty law passed under former military president Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for a return to civilian rule.
Two years later, the Supreme Court ruled that agreement illegal, and ordered the reopening of money laundering cases against Zardari that involved Swiss bank accounts.
The government has refused to obey the court's order, arguing Zardari had immunity as the head of state.
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