The Law Ministry had sent the summary to the PM on the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, expressing serious reservations over the prospects of reopening of Swiss cases against President Zardari, saying the cases had been closed and could not be reopened, informed sources in Law Ministry told Business Recorder on Thursday.
The SC gave a deadline of Friday to Secretary Law, Masood Chisti on Wednesday to reopen cases against Asif Ali Zardari in the Swiss court. The Law Secretary was directed by the apex court to send a summary to the Prime Minister, requesting him to write a letter to the Swiss government in accordance with the spirit of Supreme Court's verdict.
In favour of this plea, the Law Ministry stated that the President is the Supreme Commander of armed forces of the country and part of the Parliament, adding that Parliament and President could not be separated and "Parliament is supreme and hence its supremacy cannot be challenged."
The sources said the Ministry prepared the summary on the directives of the apex court. The summary stated that Swiss cases against President Zardari cannot be reopened as their reopening would be tantamount to putting the country's sovereignty at stake. The summary also states that as per law, no incumbent President could be prosecuted in any other country, sources said.
The cases against Asif Ali Zardari were closed after the then military dictator President, Pervez Musharraf, issued NRO, which granted amnesty to politicians accused of certain crimes, including money-laundering, embezzlement and corruption. On December 16, 2009 the Supreme Court of Pakistan struck down the NRO and declared it void ab initio.