Last week, the government told the apex court categorically that Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari "cannot be reopened" and there was no need of any correspondence with Swiss authorities on the issue. "The chapter of Swiss cases has been closed and there is no need to pursue this matter," said a written statement of Law Secretary Aqil Mirza. The court had directed the secretary to appear before it on May 13.
However, a day after the five-member bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, hearing a case relating to non-implementation of NRO verdict, summoned the secretary, he tendered his resignation on health reasons. A five-member larger bench comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi and Justice Tariq Parvez also ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman and Secretary Interior to appear before the court with all relevant documents.
Expressing displeasure over the absence of law secretary, the court questioned Attorney General (AG) Maulvi Anwarul Haq regarding the status of resignation submitted by Aqil Mirza and his health condition. The AG told the court that his resignation was not accepted yet. However, the AG said that the secretary was taking rest at his Lahore residence after medical treatment but was unable to attend the court, he added.
Meanwhile, Additional Attorney General KK Agha presented a 90-page report pertaining to promotion of Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, despite being convicted by the NAB. In 2001, an accountability court had convicted Ahemd Riaz Sheikh with the maximum of 14 years rigorous imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 million on him and ordered confiscation of his property. The court directed the DAG to submit a report in this behalf after a week.