Like Gilani, defiance may sink PM Ashraf

[1]

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday hinted that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf may be disqualified like his predecessor Yousaf Raza Gilani if he does not write to the Swiss authorities by July 25 seeking reopening of corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

“The court has ordered that the Prime Minister is bound to write the letter to the Swiss authorities. If he does not do so, the court can take any action in accordance with the Constitution,” a court official said, citing the verdict in the National Reconciliation Ordinance case.

The court directed Mr Ashraf to write to the Swiss government by July 25 and submit a report, “otherwise the court could take any appropriate action”.

Judge Asif Saeed Khosa said Prime Minister Ashraf was “bound to implement the relevant directions of this court”, just like his predecessor, whom the court last month dismissed for contempt for refusing to obey its order.

The Supreme Court bench had said in its remarks while sentencing Mr Gilani that President Zardari enjoys no immunity as President of Pakistan.

The court also summoned information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira for addressing a news conference claiming the President enjoyed immunity.

Mr Kaira had said any letter could not be written to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against Mr Zardari as he is the head of the state and enjoys absolute immunity in Pakistan and other countries.

Earlier, attorney-general Irfan Qadir told the apex court that its orders had been delivered to the Prime Minister and the federal law ministry. The federal cabinet and the PM would take a collective decision on the letter to the Swiss authorities, he added.

Legal experts say that the court can sack Prime Minister Ashraf if he does not write the letter by July 25.

“This time the court may not give as much time to Prime Minister Ashraf as it did to Mr Gilani. He can be sent home if the government tells the court it will not write the letter,” said a law expert.