NRO judgment: Petition seeking orders on letter to Swiss authorities dismissed

SHC says matter is already pending with the Supreme Court.


Our Correspondent June 25, 2012

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking direction to the newly elected Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to implement the NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) along with its Para 178 which warrants a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening a money laundering case involving President Asif Ali Zardari).

When the the petition filed by Moulvi Iqbal Haider advocate came up for hearing before a division bench, it was of the view that the matter was still pending adjudication before the Supreme Court.

The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi , told the petitioner that apex court has passed the orders in the said case and as the matter is still pending before the highest court, it is not maintainable.

The petitioner, referring to the judgment by the Supreme Court handed down on April 26, 2010, in Dr Mubashir Hassan case, maintained that the apex court held contempt of court proceedings against former prime minister and convicted him for disobeying the court orders as he refused to write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening of a case of money laundering.

The said judgment disqualified Gilani for a period of five years after which President fielded Raja Pervaiz Ashraf as candidate to become Prime Minister believing that Raja Pervez Ashraf would follow in foot steps of Yousuf Raza Gilani and would not implement the NRO judgment.

The petitioner requested the court to declare that new prime minister is bound to implement the NRO judgment and must implement its Para 178 without even a delay of a single day.  The petitioner also requested the court to direct the new premier to write a letter to the Attorney General of Geneva. The high court, however, decreed that the petition was “not maintainable” on the ground that it was already pending before the Supreme Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.

COMMENTS (1)

Afrasyab | 11 years ago | Reply

The adage “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion” is most appropriate for us to ponder over. My Lord will no doubt realise that there are two opinions in this country regarding the matter. The first opinion is that there is a grave conspiracy brewing against the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the second opinion is one that is unfavourable to your Lordship’s position and reputation. I do not wish to go into the controversy of which opinion is the majority opinion in the country. However, what is clear is that the existence of these two opinions is itself indicative of the fact that the powers that be have now manipulated the situation to an extent that your Lordship’s good name has been brought into controversy and as the saying goes, Caesar’s wife is no longer above suspicion. Your Lordship’s detractors ask inconvenient and pinching questions from your Lordship’s committed supporters like this author. They say that turning a blind eye to Mr Arsalan Iftikhar’s sudden material enrichment over the last three years is a gross breach of the faith that the nation has displayed in Your Lordship.

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