Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has told the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the federal government has directed the Law Ministry to withdraw a letter written by the ex-attorney general Malik Qayyum to the Swiss authorities for the withdrawal of graft cases against the president.
A five-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the case, according to a Private TV channel.
It may be recalled that the former Attorney General of Pakistan Malik Qayyum in 2008 wrote a letter to Swiss authorities seeking withdrawal of all corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The court also said that a draft of the letter should also be prepared in two to three days and that the court be informed accordingly.
Justice Khosa said that court may sit again day after tomorrow to review the progress but the prime minister requested that next hearing should be fixed by the end of this month.
The PM also requested the court to grant him exemption from appearance at the court to which the court agreed.
Upon this the federal Law Minister Farooq Naek said he also needs more time to write the letter but the bench adjourned the hearing till September 25.
The bench observed that the next step after withdrawal of Malik Qayyum’s letter will be to write a letter about reopening of cases closed under defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
The bench ordered that the letter should be handed over to the Swiss attorney general and the court be informed accordingly.
Earlier, the prime minister arrived at the premises of Supreme Court of Pakistan to appear before a five-member bench hearing NRO implementation case as the deadline given to the prime minister write a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening of graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari ended today.
As the hearing began the prime minister at the outset thanked the bench that granted him a three-week at the earlier hearing. The bench also appreciated the positive attitude shown by the prime minister.
Various leaders including Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of Q-League Haji Adeel of Awami National Party (ANP), Farooq Sattar of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Syed Naveed Qamar and Firdous Ashiq Awan, Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khosa have also arrived at the Supreme Court.
It should be mentioned here that allies of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) decided in a meeting held late last night with President Zardari in the chair that the premier will appear before the court and plead for more time.
During his previous appearance before the bench on August 27, the PM Raja solicited more time from the court as he was going abroad on China visit on which the court granted him time till September 18.
Emerging from the courtroom, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said that those who want clash between the national institutions are frustrated and disappointed today after the court adjourned the NRO case till September 25.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik said tension prevalent in the country has worn off after today’s proceedings.
Raja Pervaiz Kanjar
PLEASE USE DECENT LANGUAGE
Agreed
very bad ,mr baber,language used by someone is a reflection of there upbringing.
All are Idiot including SC
PLEASE USE DECENT LANGUAGE. THE GOVT. HAS ACTED INTELLIGENTLY BY AVOIDING OR POSTPONING CONFRONTATION WITH THE SC. AT LEAST, SPARE THE SC, THE CJ IS NOT AN IDIOT. RIGHT?
no use now , after 25 Augusut Pakistan Govt has no claim on that money as this case was pending for last 13 years and according to Swiss law you cannot claim money , its a gone case
The law in Switzerland has changed and time bar is no longer applicable. PPP government conceding to write and withdraw letter of Malik Qayuum is a very big victory both moral and legal of the civil society and of the common man on the streets of Antitank.
All are Idiot including SC
Intelligent decision by government and allies! Praise shoud be given when and where it is due. I fully agree with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira that "those who want clash between the national institutions are frustrated and disappointed today". Let's be happy for a while and celebrate that sanity has prevailed over emotions. Let's pray and hope that the government and allies remain steadfast in their current positive attitude. Also, Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik's statement "tension prevalent in the country has worn off after today’s proceedings" rings true. At least for today, the ruling team has scored points against the opposition. Well done!
By the way it is not matter of one or two months but this govt and same birds of feather ignored/delayed this order for last 4 years.Now election is ahead so these political cartoons are planning new game plan to fool the nation and dodging state laws.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik's statement "tension prevalent in the country has worn off after today’s proceedings" rings true.
the majority least bothered about what is going on in this case but are state of shock that what Dr malik is doing in this country for last 5 years in the place of interior minister.
You are right that "the majority is least bothered about what is going on in this case but are in a state of shock that what Dr Malik is doing in this country for last 5 years in the place of interior minister". I was trying to be optimistic; you are realistic. Instead of discussing what they are doing, let's contribute to our country's development. Ahmad Faraz (i am not sure) said, "shikwa-e-zulmat-e-shab-e-gham se to kahin behtar tha, apney hisseh ki koee shama jalaatey jaatey" – "much better than complaining about the darkness of the night of mourning, would have been to light a candlestick of our contribution". While being least bothered about others, we can play a role on our part to get Pakistan out of this mess, otherwise, we will also be responsible for not doing what we should have. Late Mehdi Hasan voiced Quaid-e-azam truly when he said, "Meer-e-karavaan hum they, rooh-e-karavaan tum ho, hum to sirf unvaan they, asal dastaan tum ho". We have to live upto this and become the "rooh" and "dastaan" our Quaid-e-Azam wanted us to be. Regards.
You are too poetic optimistic about Pakistan .Jinnah and mehdi hasna were dream merchants of Pakistanis.Jinnah didn’t apprehend on what basis he was dividing Pakistan as this disease of ethnic and religious difference was widened each year since the creation Pakistan.Faraz was quite realistic and I am strictly following his version of patriotism at least one should deviate from its goal and this is our real real jihad to survive with dignity in endangering status of Pakistan
I know only few couplets and am not a poet. Being optimistic, maybe is being unrealistic, but better than being pessimistic. "Zindagi zinda dilee ka naam hai, murda dil khaak jiya kartey hain". Very true, "this is our real real jihad to survive with dignity in endangering status of Pakistan". Another couplet to endorse your viewpoint, "agarchey buth hain jamaat ki aasteenon mein, mujhey hai hukm-e-azaan La-ilaha-il-Allah". Ahmad Faraz has also said, "jasn-e-maqtal hi barpa na hua, warna hum bhi, pa-ba-jaulaan hi sahi, naachtey, gaatey jaatey" – "the festival of execution was never held, otherwise, we, although being feet-chained, had gone dancing and singing". This optimistic (though unrealistic) mindset is needed to survive with dignity in the present dead-end scenario. Cheer up! poetic optimism is like fresh air in a closed suffocating environment. Although a maulana, Hasrat Mohani, has said, "hum ko abhi tak aashiqee ka wo zamana yaad hai, chupkey, chupkey, raat din, aansoo bahana yaad hai". Have a good night's sleep and wakeup optimistic about the future of Pakistan. Long live Pakistan! Insha-Allah.
Biased SC wants to withdraw immunity of President as per Constitution and wants to give immunity to judges from being witnesses and questioned about their corruption. Shame!!!
Hazrat Ali RA said that no society could survive without justice. As long as we have the present lot of corrupt thugs sitting in SC, we cannot expect justice. Pakistan and its society cannot co-exist with them. If these black sheep are not thrown out and given exemplary punishment, then Pakistan is doomed.
President's immunity only extends to work done or decisions made in good faith during his term of office while performing his constitutional legal work as defined in constitution. there is no IMMUNITY FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BEFORE HE TOOK OATH AS PRESIDENT OR FOR CRIMES COMMITTED DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE. IN USA PRESS CLINTON WAS NOT GRANTED IMMUNITY IN PAULA JONES's CASE WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT.
no use now , after 25 Augusut Pakistan Govt has no claim on that money as this case was pending for last 13 years and according to Swiss law you cannot claim money , its a gone case
Gilani demonstrated loyalty to those who were able to be thrown in the dust bin of history.
NATION CANT AFFORD the Drama between Court and Govt. to be continued till the end of due tenure of the running govt.
Lets face it,this government has no respect for the SC nor it does for the people of Pakistan.Zardari is way too clever and he has surrounded himself with clever and the cons.The SC really think the government will write the letter? PPP had a meeting that lasted till the late hours so they can figure out how to fool the public and the courts.I bet you before this is over and done,the government passes a law where the president will continue immunity after he has left the office.
It is not that Zardari is clever, but the people of Pakistan are either too simple or fools, who can be taken for a ride either in name of religion, promises of roti kapra aur makaan, or state security etc.. In any other country men like AZ would have met their fate, for crimes committed. This is not politics but fraud, crookery and forgery.
asif zardari has not committed any crime.these are all alligations without proof.people must not pass judgements on their own likes and dislikes
@desi I pity your state of mind after govt decision to write a letter. This has buried your hopes to find out something by hook or by crook from so called Swiss money case. Your disappointment is ridiculous. Falsehoods have their final defeat. Lies hv no legs. Now that govt decided to write a letter you r opposing this. I am feeling like view a circus.
All are Idiot including SC
no use now , after 25 Augusut Pakistan Govt has no claim on that money as this case was pending for last 13 years and according to Swiss law you cannot claim money , its a gone case
A to Z must have ensured that the period elapsed must have time barred the Swiss Courts, otherwise as far as he is concerned this country can go to D-O-G-S and thousands may die in target killings in Karachi or millions displaced in rain caused floods and the nation's public air, road and rail transport or power sector collapse, but he must make more money and secure himself from accountability.
I pity your state of mind after govt decision to write a letter. This has buried your hopes to find out something by hook or by crook from so called Swiss money case. Your disappointment is ridiculous.
Country is going/gone to hell and ALL these people are busy with this topi drama. Well they all will go home.
pakistan is doing very well under difficult circumstances ,and inshallah has a very bright future.government is doing a reasonably good job.the enemies of pakistan and democracy will go to hell
Friends, we have to do more than what i am doing, i.e., posting comments. Let's get together at the forum of PT and launch a new political party "PT" headed by the editor of PT, Mr. Arif Nizami (?), agree on an agenda for the next elections (if they are held) with a dynamic but realistic five-year plan of action, and announce our intention to participate in the upcoming elections. Forget all existing poliical parties and dedicate ourselves to the compaign of making "PT" the latest and the best party, set to make a clean sweep in the next elections under the dynamic leadeship of our chairman Mr.A.Nizami. With so many qualified and knowledgable think-tanks, "PT" has bright chances of a sweeping victory, knocking out all the rest, changing both the faces and the system, and putting Pakistan on the path envisaged by Quaid-e-Azam. For this we will have to do more than posting, reading and replying to comments. 6 months are more than enough if we are united, steadfast and disciplined (faith, unity, discipline). So, let's not waste time and get on with it. See remaining comment in next post.
Well, err…, just one request if you don't mind, select me as the probable candidate for the post of PM after we sweep the next elections; after all i am the one who has proposed this bright plan to save Pakistan. Believe me, i have no foreign bank accounts, no lands, etc., I will not confront the SC and be cooperative with all others and not forget you after taking oath as the future PM of Pakistan. If you disagree, well, then i will have to be content with reading, commenting and replying on PT forum. Thanks anyway.
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