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.