NRO case: Court gives until Oct 10 to finalise draft of Swiss letter

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The Supreme Court on Friday gave the government until Oct 10 to prepare a conclusive draft of the letter to be sent to Swiss authorities for the reopening of a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa issued the directive after a hearing in the NRO implementation case.
Earlier Friday, the bench reviewed the letter’s draft submitted by Law Minister Farooq H. Naek.
Justice Khosa said the draft was not in spirit of the court’s order, adding that, that the first and second paragraphs of the draft were in accordance with the court’s order but the third paragraph conflicted with the first two paragraphs as well as with the court’s order.
Justice Khosa further said that the last paragraph of the letter’s draft needed reviewing and that the matter was just inches away from a resolution.
After the bench expressed its reservations, Naek requested for 15 minutes’ time to address the court’s reservations.
The minister said he had made the request for more time in the greater national interest and asked the court to not reveal the contents of the letter in public.
Upon which, Justice Khosa said that hiding the letter’s contents could lead to questions of transparency.
Granting the minister’s request, Justice Khosa said the matter was nearing a resolution which was why the court would give the government more time.
He further said that it took a long time for the government to reach the current point, adding that, all the work done in the past could not simply be wasted.
The court took a recess during which Naek was summoned to the judges’ chamber.
Later, Naek requested the bench to give him time until Oct 10 to consult with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on the letter’s draft. The request was granted by the court and the case’s hearing was subsequently adjourned to Oct 10.
Earlier during the hearing, Naek had presented before the court the amended draft of the letter.
Naek had requested the judges to review the letter’s draft and inform in case they had any reservations over it.
After which, the judges had retired to their chamber to review the draft.
Prior to the start of the hearing, Naek had told reporters that he hoped that the matter would be resolved today, adding that, he always had a positive approach on the matter.
The law minister had further said that the government would implement the order of the Supreme Court.

9 COMMENTS

  1. THE JUDGES IT IS NOT ONLY PRIME MINISTER BUT INFACT THE PERMANENTLY POLITICAL,PARTISAN,EXTRA CONSTITUTIONALLY PERFORMING PRESIDENT WHO HAS PLAYED CONTEMPTUOUSLY DILATORY TACTICS WITH HIGHEST COURT OF PAKISTAN WHO HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY LENIENT TO HIM WHICH HAS ALLOWED HIM TO PLAY HELL WITH ECONOMY AND COUNTRY.IT S TIME TO CALL IT A DAY AND NOT ONLY DISQUALIFY PRIME MINISTER BUT ALSO PRESIDENT FOR CONTEMPT AND VIOLATING CONSTITUTION FOR BREACHING OATH OF OFFICE,CONSTITUTION FOR POLITICAL,PARTISAN CONDUCT OF PRESIDENCY FROM DAY ONE.SAVING COUNTRY IS NO1 PRIORITY.HE WILL NEVER LET FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE.

  2. How long this drama go on? Wasting national resources and time is just disgusting. People are more interested in the end result.

  3. It will be better that before taking up any case, the Supreme Court holds a thorough probe into massive allegations of blatant corruption (like, for instance, Familygate) and sugar-coated corruption like multiple plots. Our judiciary is rotten to the core. Without clearing itself first, its judgements cannot carry any moral authority.

  4. The Supreme Court is 100% at fault. By giving additional time, they are giving the impression that rules could be bent and law could be twisted. The govt (and the judiciary) has been dragging this thing for way too long. The SC has lost all credibility because they have failed to punish the law breakers. Either you follow the law or you don't. In this case, the govt has refused to follow the law and the SC has failed to punish them. I have no sympathy for SC judges anymore. They deserve what they have coming.

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