Directives to write letters to Swiss authorities sent to AGP office: SC
Prime Minister to submit compliance report by March 21.
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Saturday sent written orders to the Attorney General of Pakistan’s office, directing Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to write letters to the Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, a seven member-bench of the apex court had on March 8 directed that its orders be delivered to the Prime Minister via the attorney general. The written order of the court stated that despite Gilani’s appearance before the court in response to a notice (contempt of court case), he had made no commitment to implement Supreme Court’ judgment over National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“We will not comment upon the defence of the prime minister as the same will be examined in the contempt proceedings still pending adjudication,” read the order of the trial bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk hearing the contempt of court case against PM.
The court said that the proceedings related to disobedience of earlier orders of the court and their pendency would not affect the process of implementing the directions. Thus, regardless of any advice tendered earlier, or in future, the prime minister, being chief executive of the federation, who admittedly has the final say in the executive domain, shall implement the directions given in paragraphs 177 and 178 of the judgment in the case.
The court additionally asked the prime minister to submit a compliance report on this direction and similar orders by March 21.
NAB seeks one month to complete inquiry
The court order revealed that Shaiq Usmani, the counsel for chairman NAB, had sought a month’s time to complete the process of inquiry in pending cases.
The court order further said that after being pointed out by the court, certain observations made in the NAB’s report that there was apparent government consent to then attorney general Malik Muhammad Qayyum for writing the letter to Swiss authorities for closure of corruption cases. However, chairman NAB’s attorney told the court that this was unintentionally included in the report.
The court on March 8 also heard the case of Ahmad Riaz Sheik, who had been appointed as Additional DG Federal Investigation Agency in violation of Supreme Court orders. The court order stated that Dr Basit’s request was turned down in which he asked the court that ‘do not monitor the cases of his clients, Adnan A Khawaja and Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, pending before NAB.
The Supreme Court on Saturday sent written orders to the Attorney General of Pakistan’s office, directing Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to write letters to the Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, a seven member-bench of the apex court had on March 8 directed that its orders be delivered to the Prime Minister via the attorney general. The written order of the court stated that despite Gilani’s appearance before the court in response to a notice (contempt of court case), he had made no commitment to implement Supreme Court’ judgment over National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“We will not comment upon the defence of the prime minister as the same will be examined in the contempt proceedings still pending adjudication,” read the order of the trial bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk hearing the contempt of court case against PM.
The court said that the proceedings related to disobedience of earlier orders of the court and their pendency would not affect the process of implementing the directions. Thus, regardless of any advice tendered earlier, or in future, the prime minister, being chief executive of the federation, who admittedly has the final say in the executive domain, shall implement the directions given in paragraphs 177 and 178 of the judgment in the case.
The court additionally asked the prime minister to submit a compliance report on this direction and similar orders by March 21.
NAB seeks one month to complete inquiry
The court order revealed that Shaiq Usmani, the counsel for chairman NAB, had sought a month’s time to complete the process of inquiry in pending cases.
The court order further said that after being pointed out by the court, certain observations made in the NAB’s report that there was apparent government consent to then attorney general Malik Muhammad Qayyum for writing the letter to Swiss authorities for closure of corruption cases. However, chairman NAB’s attorney told the court that this was unintentionally included in the report.
The court on March 8 also heard the case of Ahmad Riaz Sheik, who had been appointed as Additional DG Federal Investigation Agency in violation of Supreme Court orders. The court order stated that Dr Basit’s request was turned down in which he asked the court that ‘do not monitor the cases of his clients, Adnan A Khawaja and Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, pending before NAB.