Finally, Government writes letter to Swiss authorities

Finally, the letter to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari was written and sent through the Foreign Office on November 5.

According to PTV the letter was sent to Swiss authorities by Foreign Office and the text of the letter is same as agreed between SC and Law Minister.

The apex court had given Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf one-month deadline to write the letter to the Swiss authorities to withdraw a previous letter to the Swiss government by former Attorney General Malik Qayyum, seeking closure of alleged graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

During Ex-Prime Minister (PM) Yousuf Raza Gilani’s tenure, the Supreme Court had not left any other option for the government, and now the PPP had avenues, as the court was listening to the federal government’s narrations after the issue was debated on the media and in legal circles.

The tussle between the judiciary and the PPP government came to an end following the latter’s decision to implement the former’s orders

In September, the executive and the judiciary deadlock saw a breakthrough when Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf agreed to write the letter, and assigned the task to Law Minister Farooq H Naek.

After weeks of delay and corrections, the country’s top court had approved the Swiss letter draft submitted on October 10.

On the appeal of Law Minister Farooq H Naek, the federation was given till November 10 to send the letter to Swiss authorities.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had directed Naek to dispatch the letter, indicating further progress since the Supreme Court gave the government draft of the letter a final nod.

TEXT OF LETTER AS AGREED WITH Supreme Court

Attorney General
Geneva,
Switzerland
Re: PP/11105/1997 and CP 289/97.

Dear Sir,

This is with reference to the letter dated 22nd May 2008 addressed by Malik Mohammad Qayyum, the then Attorney General of Pakistan to Mr. Daniel Zappelli, Attorney General, Geneva, Switzerland.

In view of the directions given by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Paragraph 178 (copy attached as Annex-I) of its Judgment dated 16th December 2009 in the case of Dr. Mobashir Hasan, reported as PLD 2010 SC 265, the aforesaid letter is hereby withdrawn and may be treated as never written and therefore revival of requests, status and claims, is sought.

This is without prejudice to the legal rights and defences of the Presidents/Heads of State which may be available under the law, constitution and international law.

Yours sincerely
Justice (R) Yasmin Abbasey
Secretary

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=34809

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Nov 8 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.