Case closed: Cases against Zardari cannot be reopened
Law ministry to look into reports that letter argued against opening the Swiss cases.
President Asif Ali Zardari PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The achilles heel of two previous prime ministers – the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari - have finally been closed.
In a letter written in response to the government’s request to reopen the controversial cases, Swiss authorities have conveyed to the government that cases against the president have been closed on technical grounds, as they have become time barred.
After months of wrangling and the dismissal of a prime minister, the previous government had earlier written to the Swiss authorities to reopen the cases involving billions of rupees in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court.
A press release issued by the law ministry stated that Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland had forwarded a letter containing the decision of the Attorney General of Geneva, wherein it states that “Public Ministry of Geneva has decided not to review the closure order dated 25th August 2008 on the ground that the statutory limitation period has expired; no new evidence has been revealed; and the Republic of Pakistan is demanding resumption of the criminal procedure while maintaining that such resumption could not take place”
The time debarment occurred due to the previous Government’s failure in writing to Swiss authorities in a timely manner despite repeated directions by the apex court during last five years.
Aware of the time sensitivity of the matter, the apex court had disqualified a sitting prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on contempt of court for disobeying its orders to write a letter seeking reopening of the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.
The achilles heel of two previous prime ministers – the Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari - have finally been closed.
In a letter written in response to the government’s request to reopen the controversial cases, Swiss authorities have conveyed to the government that cases against the president have been closed on technical grounds, as they have become time barred.
After months of wrangling and the dismissal of a prime minister, the previous government had earlier written to the Swiss authorities to reopen the cases involving billions of rupees in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court.
A press release issued by the law ministry stated that Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland had forwarded a letter containing the decision of the Attorney General of Geneva, wherein it states that “Public Ministry of Geneva has decided not to review the closure order dated 25th August 2008 on the ground that the statutory limitation period has expired; no new evidence has been revealed; and the Republic of Pakistan is demanding resumption of the criminal procedure while maintaining that such resumption could not take place”
The time debarment occurred due to the previous Government’s failure in writing to Swiss authorities in a timely manner despite repeated directions by the apex court during last five years.
Aware of the time sensitivity of the matter, the apex court had disqualified a sitting prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on contempt of court for disobeying its orders to write a letter seeking reopening of the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2013.