Swiss officials cannot open graft cases against Zardari

Swiss authorities have informed the Pakistan government they cannot open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in line with an order from the Supreme Court, Law Minister Farooq Naek said Saturday.

The Swiss authorities conveyed their position in an official letter sent to the Pakistan government this week, Naek was quoted as saying by TV news channels.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, a close aide of Zardari, said the decision of the Swiss authorities had endorsed the stance adopted by the Pakistan government.

Giving in to pressure from the Supreme Court, the Pakistan government had sent a letter seeking the reopening of the graft cases last November. However, the letter had made it clear that the cases could be revived with the condition that the President enjoyed immunity under the Constitution and Pakistani and international laws.

The standoff between the government and the apex court over approaching the Swiss authorities over the graft cases had cost former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani his job last year.

The court disqualified Gilani after convicting him for contempt for refusing to revive the cases. Gilani's successor Raja Pervez Ashraf agreed to implement the apex court's orders in November after he was charged with contempt.

The National Reconciliation Ordinance, which was part of a secret deal between Musharraf and slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, benefited Zardari and over 8,000 others.

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