Pakistan‘s Supreme Court never left from its major blow over graft cases, not even relief for newly elected PM Raja Pervez Ashraf. Today, directing July 25 as deadline, SC ordered Ashraf to write Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Mr. Ashraf has directed by SC to push inquiry on matter without any consultations with legal experts and the government.
The apex court of a five-judge bench directed him to write to the Swiss authorities about the graft cases, one is of laundering of USD 60 million during slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto‘s second term in the 1990s. It asked to submit a report on July 25 while on next hearing.
PM had asked to file a reply on June 27 whether he was asked Swiss authorities to reopen cases or not, and his failure to submit a report, forced the court to set a deadline against him.
According to source, a warning issued to Premier as if he failed to do as per court’s order, strict action against him will have been taken.
“If the PM fails to implement the order, the court can take any action against him in accordance with the constitution. PM Raja Pervez Ashraf is bound to implement the court’s order which was given to former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani,” the court said in a statement.
In Pakistan Parliament, a fresh political crisis over the issue is hitting the new PM’s post as same was happened with his predecessor, Yousuf Raza Gilani who after convicted of contempt in April by court for refusing to reopen the graft cases as per its order, dismissed on July 19 for five years.
Report said, just two hours before the court’s statement, President Zardari signed into law an amendment bill aimed to provide blanket to top government functionaries- Prime Minister, President, Chief Ministers, Governors, Federal and Provincial Ministers from contempt of court proceedings.
It has been said that major effort for new law is to save current Premier from pressure of disqualification by the court for refusing to reopen the cases in Switzerland. The Pakistan People Party called it a biased action that is only against Zardari and his party.
