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Pak SC asks PM to reopen Zardari cases

President signs law to protect PM from contempt

Agencies
Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday ordered Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, the latest twist in a long-running confrontation between the judiciary and the government.
In a veiled threat to remove the new prime minister from office,
the Supreme Court asked Ashraf, ^ala P®rvez Ashraf who replaced Yusuf Raza Gilani, to submit a report on compliance with its orders by July 25.
"Failing which, the court may initiate any appropriate action in accordance with the law," Justice Asif Khosa said, reading out the court's order.
Pak SC asks PM
FROM PAGE 20
Pakistan's previous prime minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, was disqualified from his job by the Supreme Court last month after he was convicted of contempt of court for failing to restart work on the cases against the president, who also heads the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Hours before the Supreme Court was due to resume proceedings in the case, Zardari signed into law a controversial bill exempting senior officials from contempt of court charges, in an apparent attempt to shield Prime Minister Ashraf from the charges faced by hispredecessor.
The Senate, or upper house, passed the bill after a debate late Wednesday as the main opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-N headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif staged a walk out to boycott the proceedings.
The bill was passed by the lower house of parliament on Monday.
It appears the judiciary is unwilling to end a showdown with the coalition government, which could force elections before February 2013 when it would become the first in Pakistan to complete an elected, full five-year mandate.
Judge Asif Saeed Khosa rejected government stalling tactics and said Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was "bound to implement the relevant directions of this court".
The judiciary has been trying for years to force the administration to reopen multi-million-dollar corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, which its critics have likened to a personal vendetta campaign.
The allegations against Zardari date back to the 1990s, when he and his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, are suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder $12 million allegedly paid in bribes by companies seeking customs inspection contracts.
Thousands of corruption cases were thrown out in 2007 under an amnesty law passed by former military' ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for his return to civilian rule.
Two years later, the Supreme Court ruled that agreement illegal, and ordered the reopening of money laundering cases against Zardari.
The government has refused to obey that order, arguing that Zardari has immunity as the head of state. Zardari denies any wrongdoing, and says the cases were politically motivated.