Khursheed Shah. PHOTO: FILE
Addressing the National Assembly session, Shah said that earlier PML-N and PPP were working together, however, their recent statements show that their patience is fading and they are re-opening the Swiss cases, which were closed by the courts.
Responding to Shah’s outburst, Chaudhry Nisar said that there was nothing political in the statement, there were just legal points.
Earlier on Wednesday, the government’s top lawyer made some startling revelations about the infamous Swiss case in the Supreme Court.
AG Munir Malik told the court on Wednesday that “after the November 5 letter … requesting to withdraw the letter written by former attorney general Malik Abdul Qayyum for closing the [Swiss} cases, the government [also] wrote [another] letter on November 22 addressing advocate Dr Nicholas Jaanding, their lawyer in Geneva.”
In another letter written without informing the Supreme Court, the government urged the Swiss authorities that the order of the closing the cases by former attorney general Malik Abdul Qayyum on May 25, 2008 had attained finality and under Swiss laws cannot be reopened, AG Munir Malik said.
To the surprise of the bench, AG Munir Malik said the decision of the Swiss authorities was conveyed to the Pakistan government on February 4, 2013 but it was made available on the records on June 14, 2013 and that too after the incumbent government asked its ambassador in Geneva about the proceedings.
He said that the incumbent premier, Nawaz Sharif, has formed a two-member team – comprising Cabinet Secretary Sami Saeed and Intelligence Bureau head Aftab Sultan – to find out the reasons for the non-availability of the records of the letters written to Swiss authorities with the law ministry and to fix responsibility.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Iram: one purpose of deciding the case in a court of law is to establish that the accusations are true or false. second purpose to punish the guilty if the crime is proven.Third is to make the public at large understand that Law can not be flouted and last but not the least is to prevent commitment of such offence in the future.
Why are you so worried if you are honest, as you claim? Please don't obstruct the justice any more. Let looted money of taxpayer's be recovered from the PPP government's broad daylight dacoities in Pakistan Steel Mills, PIA, NICL, NLC, Hajj scandal, Ephidrene Scandal etc etc...
$60 million is peanuts compared to the money and time wasted on this fiasco. The money should have been obtained when zardari was incarcerated for 8 years without trial.
Bottom line is that all of zardaris illegal wealth will not revive Pakistans economy, but will waste more time and money and distract from real issues.
Shah sahib why accuse PMLN? The fact of the matter is that the money is stolen and should belong to the state. Your party has robbed this country over the years and is not innocent.
Just a diversion from PMLN failures
When Nwaz is in government he opens and make cases to put pressure on them, he wastes tax payers money to prove these cases but it is alarming that despite spending a handsome amount he did not able to prove anything. When he is in opposition he sings COD and endorses NRO. Isn't it sheer hypocrisy?
Yes! please open the cases and bring back the money, and also open the case in which court has affidavit from our current Finance Minister that he laundered money on behalf of Nawaz and Shahbaz. Bring back that money too. Dear CJP don't be selective in hearing the cases. You are supposed to be impartial. At least pretend to be one!!!
"they are re-opening the Swiss cases," why not? Please stop playing your dirty game of obstructing justice.
Should not have been laundering looted wealth of corrupt Pakistani businessmen.
I think those who are failed to prove authenticity of these cases despite spending billions of taxpayer money and despite the fact that Zardari was under the detention of government, deserve severe punishments. This is only a political move and nothing to do with rule of law or the money of people..this is old game being played with new player (so called active and impartial supreme court).
Pakistani poor peoples need this money please open this cases and return the money of Pakistani peoples and Pakistani needs justice ....
What about cases against Sharifs & Arsalan Iftikhar?
You tried to close they are opening, whats the difference. If He is innocent then there is nothing to worry about.