Former president Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: The Swiss authorities, who were contacted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to reopen the pending graft cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari, said on Tuesday that the time limit to do so has passed, Express News reported.
"The cases are time-barred," said Express News correspondent Muhammad Bilal, adding that Switzerland has their own policies and rules in place for such requests.
In April 2010, Swiss attorney general Daniel Zappelli had stated that since Zardari as President enjoyed immunity under international law, Swiss courts could not entertain any request to reopen the cases against him.
In their latest response, the Swiss authorities reiterated that the time to re-open graft cases worth $60 million against Zardari had passed.
"Secretary Law Ministry oversaw the entire procedure and the communication process. The Swiss authorities have now written back stating the cases can't reopened," said Bilal.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to be notified of the response and will constitute the next course of action after consulting with his legal team.
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One more reason why Pakistan is a failed state.
How much of tax payers money has been spent on this case??? How much time has been spent ??. Who are the people who are responsible for this loss of time, money. Who earned from this case.??? Who lost money and time on this case??. Some of the questions that need answers.
Congratulations to Nawaz Sharif. He prove himself real friend of Zaridari.
Now the nation is only interested to see when cases against son of Chief Justice will be re-opened. One also wonders why cases against the siting PM and some retired personnel are still pending.
Do we remember the hype that was created over this issue by the Supreme Court? And some TV channels screaming out loud that President Zardari's days are over and that he would not last beyond a certain time period. In the end it turns out that Mr. Aitizaz Ahsan was right. The only institution that got egg on it's face in this entire episode is the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Dry-Cleaned Iftikhar Chaudhry should now be tried for the contempt of his own court.
@Parvez: "Does that make him innocent of the crime ?????" . Of course you are unless you are caught. If you do not believe it, ask Immy?
@Mohibullah Khan: "Swiss is a country of thieves and they invite all thieves world wide to deposit their ill-gotten money in their banks with a promise of secrecy and protection. " . The Swiss Banks did not close down for business during the war even for a single day. They know what the call from The White House meant.
Congratulations ET. Now you can sigh in relief.
The govt and SC have been fooling the nation knowing full well that these cases cannot be re-tried after so long. The purpose is not to decide the case and punish the guilty but to keep these alive to take political advantage and fool the public. Not too long ago the Swiss attorney general had said that you have your courts why don’t you try him there? While the three sitting HC chief justices chased a shifty foreigner and moved the courts to overseas and a large bench of SC wasted time and resources on an undated and unsigned memo. These same justices have never tried this case even though the govt and judges claim to have all the proofs. What is the function of Pakistani court system when they cannot decide even one most high profile case and outsource it? In fact not a single case against Zardari was decided by SC in last three decades why? Yet they insinuate that he is guilty of everything and kept him in jail for more than a decade.
Now pakistan adds a LEGEND to its honour! Salute!
Does that make him innocent of the crime ?????
Go Zadari go- to Switzerland and enjoy rest of your life in this beautiful country and also other Western countries, as your political career is over in Pakistan.
This is just another misleading report from Express Triubune - where is any Swiss official mentioned? Don't make things up.
Cases may not open in this world but cases will be opened in the supreme of the supreme court in front of the creator. I just hope that my turn is not after any members of Bhutto family.
PML(N) can use their Taliban brothers to extort some money out of Zardari :-)
Since it's PML(N) turn to make money, they will not touch PPP.
it took more than 4 year to decide the case by Supreme.Court...
Swiss is a country of thieves and they invite all thieves world wide to deposit their ill-gotten money in their banks with a promise of secrecy and protection.
It's evident now. There's a "muk mukka" between PPP and PML-N on Zardari. That's why there has been a consensus on NAB Chairman now.
Either our government n legal wizards lived or living in fools paradise OR intentionally keeping the Nation in fools paradise. 1st these wizards should forget $60-millions (probably it's already $120-millions "principle plus interest). 2nd if these wizards really want to recover above mentioned looted money than simply "confiscate person's palaces, house's, land n cash from his local bank accounts (including freeze bank accounts in Dubai/property). If not than just say goodby n relax, what's the idea wasting State money n fooling public.
There is no time bar, with the 'One' who has the ultimate authority...so eventually justice will be done for each and every case of his.
Swiss (read western countries) are not fools that they return our looted wealth. What about Koh-e-Noor diamond etc
Zardari was definitely no saint, but after looking at Nawaz Sharif and the honourable CJ, Mr Zardari seems more and more saintly.