Zardari immune, even the Swiss say so

By
PakistanToday
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47
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Heralding good news for the embattled Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Swiss authorities have expressed their inability to reopen the graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari because he enjoys immunity as the head of state.

According to Swiss authorities, President Zardari enjoys immunity against all criminal charges and no action can be taken against him till he holds the post of president.

“This is without prejudice to the legal rights and defences of presidents/heads of state which may be available under the law, constitution and international law,” the Swiss letter states.

Federal Law Minister Farooq Naik has confirmed receiving the letter and said that he would himself apprise the president about its contents.

The much awaited letter that led to ouster of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani from his office was written to the Swiss authorities in November 2012.

The apex court had given the government one-month deadline to write the letter to the Swiss authorities to withdraw a previous letter to the Swiss government by former attorney general Malik Qayyum, seeking closure of alleged graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Zardari to stay put in Lahore indefinitely:

Meanwhile, President Zardari has decided to make Bilawal House in Bahria Town his permanent abode and will stay put in the provincial capital of Punjab for an indefinite period, Pakistan Today has learnt through reliable sources.

Sources said that President Zardari was looking forward to meet Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif to offer his condolence on the death of Nawaz’s brother, Abbas Sharif, and also to discuss the various matters of national interest, including the formation of the caretaker setup.

“Contrary to Nawaz Sharif’s assertion that President Zardari was yet to initiate contact with him, the president’s military secretary had conveyed his desire to meet the PML-N chief to the latter’s staff but so far they had not responded to the request,” the sources said.

They said that President Zardari was in no hurry to call on Nawaz as he was “going to stay put” in Lahore indefinitely. “The president will also receive Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi at the Lahore airport when the foreign leader arrives in Pakistan on an official visit. President Zardari will also attend a ceremony at Punjab Governor’s House in a couple of days where a high-level Chinese delegation would be formally handed over the charge of the Gwadar port,” the sources said.

They said that President Zardari’s shifting of base to Lahore might also be linked with the Lahore High Court’s directions regarding his holding of dual offices – the co-chairmanship of the Pakistan People’s Party and the Presidency.

On Saturday, several political leaders and prominent personalities called on President Zardari at Bilawal House. The president also paid a visit to the shrine of Lahore’s patron saint, Hazrat Data Gunj Baksh and is scheduled to visit the mausoleum of Allama Muhammad Iqbal in the next few days.

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47 COMMENTS

  7. yes,the government,s stance on immunity has been proven wright.supreme court wasted a lot of time and had to back out

  12. What a slap on the face of our crazy judiciary by no less than the Swiss authorities. CH should atleast resign immediately. Enough damage has been done to the country. The whole world is laughing at our judiciary. An organ of Pakistan State, the SC, wanted a foreign magistrate to prosecute the head of Pakistan State. How much more crazy and vengeful than this it can get? Enough id enough.

    • You r just a stupid and hate-patient. What is legal is legal. The world is not like prejudicial Pakistani(Punjab-biased) judges.

  19. yes media has most definately been biased,i donot think they have the moral courage to apologise,most news channels have lost credibility anyway

  20. Our media is total rubbish and majority of t v anchors work for nawaz sharif,most people know about this and therefore these talk shows have lost their value

  21. It proves that one-eyed joker is really a joker…this clown must be held accountable for making a mountain out of a molehill. He is Khaki's attack d0g.

  25. I see a lot of PPP supporters celebrating Zardari's out of jail free card.But lets get one thing straight,just because the Swiss authorities aren't willing to open the case because he ENJOYS immunity while serving(not really) the people of Pakistan does not mean he is not a criminal,his day will come.The day he is off the throne is the day there will be stacks of cases against him and then you will see the CJ come into action AGAIN.I look forward to seeing this corrupt piece of S***H***I***T*** in stripped matching shirt pant suit LMFAO.

  26. If you want peace, then fight o justice!
    A nation that does not value character, integrity and rule of law has no future!
    The nation has gone beyond tipping point!
    Cj's incompetence is visible even to the blind!
    He did take the nation for a five ride.
    If he, the CJ, had any moral decency, he should have resigned after his sons scandal…but then this is the morally, ethically, intellectually, and religiously bankrupt state of Pakistan today!!!

  27. What prevented you Mr. CJ from taking Suo Motu action against Mr. Zardari on the Swiss case evidence?

    Instead you deceived nation, knowing full well that, no case will be opened by rthe Swiss under the double jeopardy clause…after the govt. Pakistan itself requested to withdraw the case against Mr. Zardari. You expected the Swiss to do what, you could not or would not do yourself, with the evidence supplied by Pakistan to the swiss.

    You let the nation down!

  28. Kudos to Zardar's supporters who are jubilant on Swiss government's decision not tp proceed against a head of State who having no income of his own, is constructing fort- like Zardari houses after Zardari houses in and out of the country. Let me remind them it was your hard earned money.

  29. THE TRAGIC NATION WHOSE 'SADER'IS THE MOST CORRUPT MAN OF WORLD UNDER EVERY ONE WATCH,OF JUDICIARY,JURISTS,MEDIA,GENERALS, INTELLIGENTSIA,MEDIA,POLITICAL PARTIES YET HE IS THE MOST HONEST PERSON TO BE THE 'SADER E MOHTRAM'D ESPITE BEING POLITICAL,PARTISAN IN HIS NEW 5 BILLION RUPEES PALACE IN LAHORE AND WHO PAID-NO FBR WILL BOTHER,NO TIP,TAP,MQM,ANP,MLQ ETCETC.GOD SAVE US FROM MUNAFAKS,MOKAPRASTS AND WICKEDS

  32. After destroying dear Sindh & Karachi, hes not set his sights on destroying Punjab & Lahore. Hey, atleast the jiyalas are in Karachi and will likely kill themselves among the infighting…

  34. CJ should resign now He could not decide on a simple corruption case and for a person who spent 10 years in jail enjoys the highest public office in paksitan. Instead he referred to swiss courts he is either incompetent or nad in glove with the PPP/Zardari regime

  36. Such so called Pakistanis like zardari, Musharraf, Bhuttos, sharif, swati are blue boys of western world as they transferred huge Pakistani funds to their banks and contribute heavliy in their financial projects so who would open cases against them.This breeds named as aristocrats families of Pakistan have same background of selling Pakistan and its assets to western powers.

  38. I see that President is in Lahore to condole! Is it a" political condolence" on the part of this wily fox? I must admit i have stared admiring this chap. Nothing sticks on him. People get the Govt. they deserve—-i fear we are stuck with him for good. Since he has made Lahore his residence how can Nawaz not invite him for a cup of tea or refuse one.

  41. Ths further confirms that Pakistan is the most F**U**C**K**E**D nation on face of this earth. They enjoy getting F**U**C**K**E**D by crooks like Zaradri, Rental Raja and other PPP B**A**S**T**A**R**D**S

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