Reaffirming the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government’s stance on immunity to President Asif Ali Zardari, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday said the parliament had granted immunity to the president and only it had the power to revoke it.
She was briefing reporters at the National Press Club about the decisions taken during the federal cabinet’s meeting held under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. “Until the time the presidential immunity is part of the constitution, the prime minister will not violate this constitutional provision. The premier would also appear before the (apex) court as per the court’s direction,” said Awan when asked if the prime minister would write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening corruption cases against Zardari in accordance with the court’s new order.
Commenting on the Mehrangate case, the minister said the PPP was waiting for the apex court’s verdict on the matter. “We would see how those who had been hand-in-glove with corruption would be able to come clean out of this very case. The history would decide the fate of those involved in the Mehran Bank case,” she said, adding that the projects launched by the Punjab government, such as Sasti Roti, flyover bridges, and distribution of laptops, reflected lack of transparency.