Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the government a two-week ultimatum to submit a report on steps being taken to re-open corruption cases against the head of state and other politicians. In a rare development, Law Minister Dr. Babar Awan appeared before the Supreme Court after being summoned a few days back, and said that no money laundering case had been instituted against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland in the nineties and only an investigative process had been initiated against him. His appearance before a five-member apex court bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk and presentation of arguments in a polite but firm manner killed the widespread speculation about an impending confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court. President Asif Ali Zardari is immune from prosecution while in office, but the supreme court is piling pressure on the government to reopen and prosecute cases after it scrapped an amnesty shielding politicians last December. “There should be a clear reply as to what steps have been taken in implementing the NRO verdict and whether the government intends to implement the whole order or not,” said Justice Raja Fayyaz. During the 90-minute hearing, Awan said the government was “meeting day and night” to implement the December 16 verdict. Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf issued the NRO in 2007 in order to shield Zardari and more than 8,000 people from court action. “There is no such amount. This amount is not there. These are only allegations, and wrong and malicious statements,” Awan said, referring to “legal complications” and “grey areas” in approaching the Swiss authorities. The law minister said that Chaudhry Farooq, who was attorney general in 1997, had no authority of the government to write to Swiss authorities to start investigations against Zardari. Daniel Zappelli, the public prosecutor of Geneva, has said it would be “impossible” to reopen the money laundering case in Switzerland against Zardari unless Pakistan lifts Zardari's immunity as head of state.
