Order Ashraf to write Swiss letter, applicant to SC

ISLAMABAD: An application was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday asking the court to order Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, reported Express News.

The applicant maintained that Ashraf should not be allowed to work till he writes the letter.

A three-member bench, led by Justice Nasirul Mulk, will resume hearing the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case on Wednesday, June 27 – the same case that led to the disqualification of Yousaf Raza Gilani as the premier.

During the last two hearings of the NRO case on May 3 and April 16, the bench abstained from passing any order in the case of appointments of several NRO beneficiaries to public offices.

A judicial notice is expected to be served upon the new premier on June 27 to implement the directives contained in paragraphs 177 and 178 of the NRO judgment, regarding writing a letter to Swiss authorities.

Gilani was charged with contempt by the Supreme Court for not writing a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen graft cases against President Zardari. A seven judge bench of the apex court, which was also headed by Justice Mulk, awarded Gilani a 37-second punishment on April 26.

The court had made it clear to Gilani that the NRO verdict penned down by the full court on Dec 16, 2009, had given categorical directions in paragraphs 177 and 178 regarding writing a letter to Swiss authorities.