Govt will reopen graft cases against Zardari: PM Ashraf

Islamabad, Sep 18:

Prime Minister

informed the

on Tuesday that the government would reopen the graft cases against President

. The PM, who was cornered by the judiciary on the issue and appeared before it for the second time under a month, said he had instructed authorities to revoke the former Attorney General's letter seeking to close the corruption cases against Zardari in Pakistan.

The Supreme Court adjourned the case till September 25 and exempted PM Ashraf from personal appearance. A five-judge of the bench had accepted Ashraf's appeal for more time to address the matter during the last hearing on August 27.

It can be mentioned here that Ashraf is the second premier to appear in the Supreme Court to face a contempt charge for refusing to revive the graft cases against the president, who is also the president of the Pakistan People's Party. Ashraf's predecessor Yousuf Raza Gilani had been disqualified by the apex court in June for refusing to proceed against Zardari.

The apex court has been putting pressure on the govrnment to revive the graft cases against Zardari since December 2009 but its effort was nullified by a amnesty order issued by former President Pervez Musharraf which aslo benefitted Zardari, among 8,000 people. The government, however, refused to act against Zardari, saying he enjoyed immunity both in Pakistan and abroad.

The latest move made by PM Ashraf will give rise to fresh problems for President Zardari.

OneIndia News