Zardari's 'Eureka' moment to see end of troublesome Swiss graft cases

Islamabad, May 13 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has directed his team of legal eagles to tell the Supreme Court that there were never any money laundering cases pending against him in Swiss courts, so the question of reopening them does not arise.

While Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar refused to comment on the issue, insiders said Zardari has asked his legal team, consisting Attorney General Justice Maulvi Anwarul Haq, Additional Attorney General K K Agha, and acting law secretary Sultan Shah to counter demands of reopening the corruption cases by stressing that there were no such petitions pending against him.

" The strategy has been prepared in the light of guidelines given by President Asif Ali Zardari. Its main element is to stress the theme that no cases could be revived against the president because these never existed and additionally Zardari enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution under Article 248 of the Constitution," The News quoted officials, privy to the issue, as saying.

It may be noted that during the last hearing on a case concerning the implementation of the Dec 16, 2009 judgment of Supreme Court against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), a five-member apex court bench had expressed its dismay over Haq's statement that the Swiss cases were a 'closed chapter.'

A senior Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said Zardari has particularly told his legal team not to be provoked which could result in confrontation between the government and the superior judiciary.

"Some people want a collision between the executive and the judiciary," the PPP leader said. (ANI)