Aitzaz Ahsan says most corruption cases dropped against Zardari were "justified"

New York, June 2 : Senior PPP leader and president of Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, who was interior minister in Benazir Bhutto's first government, has said that most of the corruption and criminal cases against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari which were dropped recently were justified, and that the PPP was a feudal political party led by a figure (read Zardari) accused of corruption and violence.

Ahsan is currently leading a campaign for the restoration of deposed judiciary in Pakistan, and in the process has attracted Zardari's ire, as the latter appears not so willing in restoring the deposed judiciary, as he does not want to see the PML-N's promises fulfilled. Ahead of the February 18 general elections, the PML-N had contained a promise in its manifesto that it would work for restoration of judiciary to the pre-Nov 3 situation.

In an interview with the New York Times, Ahsan severely criticised Zardari for dragging his feet on restoration of the judiciary because, he said, he "doesn't want independent judges".

"I asked him (Mr Ahsan) how many of the allegations of corruption he believed were justified and he answered "Most of them"", said the NYT staffer who conducted the interview.

Ahsan further said: "The type of expenses that she had and he has are not from sources of income that can be lawfully explained and accounted for."

Ahsan, who earlier defended both Benazir Bhutto and Zardari in 14 cases before the Pakistan Supreme Court, said the charges of "corruption against both" and in Zardari's case also of "kidnapping, ransom and murder", were justified.

The interviewer said: "Ahsan is almost recklessly outspoken about PPP leaders, even though they are his own political patrons. He speaks admiringly of Benazir Bhutto's courage and steadfastness but also points out with disdain that she viewed herself as the PPP's 'life chairperson'. And he does not bother to conceal his dim view of Zardari."

ANI