Former president Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: REUTERS
Rejecting Islamabad’s request, Swiss authorities have refused to re-open $60 million graft cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari.
According to media reports, the Swiss government has informed Pakistan about its decision in writing. It has taken the stance that Pakistan requested to re-open the cases after the requisite deadline.
As per Swiss laws, cases cannot be re-opened after the expiry of the deadline. In Switzerland an appeal can be filed within ten days after the decision on a criminal case. The deadline for appeal in Zardari’s corruption cases was February 15 but Islamabad filed it after that date, the reply said.
Talking to a private news channel, Law Secretary Raza Khan said the government filed its appeal in June 2013 while the decision to close the cases had been pronounced on February 4. He said after this letter of the Swiss authorities, the government would take decide a new course of action.
In April 2010, Swiss attorney general Daniel Zappelli had stated that since Zardari as president enjoyed immunity under international law, Swiss courts could not entertain any request to reopen the cases against him.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ