Zardari grants Malik presidential pardon to save him from 3-yr jail term

Islamabad, May 18 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has come to the rescue of one of his most trusted aides, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, as barely hours after the Lahore High Court (LHC) rejected Malik's plea in a corruption case, he pardoned the minister using his special power under the Article 45 of the Constitution.

The LHC had dismissed an appeal filed by Malik against punishments announced by the Accountability Court on Monday.

Hour's after the court's verdict, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar hastly announced that the 'President using his constitutional power on the advice of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani' has granted remission to Malik.

Babar, however, refused to give any more details on the issue, The Dawn reports.

The spokesman said that the pardon has been granted under Article 45 of the Constitution which says: "The president shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or authority."

Observers believe that Zardari's move is likely to heighten tension between the Presidency and the higher judiciary at a time when the relationship between the two is already at its lowest ebb. (ANI)