Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Monday set a July 12 deadline for the government to take steps to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland, saying it was giving the authorities “one more chance” to address the issue. A five-member bench of the apex court directed the law ministry to prepare within a week a fresh proposal for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani regarding the reopening of the corruption cases, which were scrapped under a controversial graft amnesty, against Mr Zardari over alleged laundering of $60 million.
If the ministry failed to do so, law secretary Masood Chishti would have to appear in the court to provide an explanation, the bench said. The court gave its directive after Attorney-General Anwarul Haq informed the bench that the law ministry was yet to implement an order issued on June 11.
At the last hearing, the bench had directed the law ministry to prepare a proposal for the Premier regarding the revival of the cases in Switzerland.
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Court takes Rajapakse fraud case
Colombo, July 5: A Sri Lankan court on Monday opened a hearing on charges of fraud against incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse by a former Army commander who ran against him in the last election.
Former Army Chief General Sarath Fonseka, currently in military custody on charges of conspiracy, alleged that Mr Rajapakse rigged the January 6 presidential poll.
The case was heard in the Supreme Court by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ashoka de Silva. The suit alleges that Mr Rajapakse illegally directed public officials to campaign on his behalf.
Lawyers for the President submitted their objections, and the Court scheduled the next hearings for September 13-15. Mr Fonseka is seeking to have the election result declared void, and to be named President.
Mr Rajapakse was elected for a second term with 59 per cent of the vote, while Mr Fonseka polled only 40 per cent. —DPA