ISLAMABAD: 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.
Pakistani Law Minister Babar Awan (C), flanked by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira (2R) and Ayatullah Durrani, State Minister of Industries and Production (R) and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power (2L), Minister for Textile Industry, Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed (L), talks to the media after appearing at the Supreme Court in Islamabad on May 25, 2010.
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.
A panel of five judges questioned Law Minister Babar Awan in court, giving him two weeks to submit a “concise” report and adjourning until June 10 its case over the collapse of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“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.
The five-member panel repeatedly interrupted Awan, asking the law minister about re-opening cases against Zardari in Switzerland and steps being taken to bring back 60 million dollars lying in Swiss banks.
“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.
Wearing sunglasses, Awan told reporters after the hearing: “Rumours about a confrontation between the government and the judiciary have died down”.
He said the government “presented its point of view in a respectful manner” and welcomed the court's attitude as “very receptive”, saying the attorney general would represent the government at the next hearing.
Security was tight with police and paramilitary forces deployed outside the building as Awan arrived flanked by around a dozen other cabinet colleagues for the hearing packed with lawyers, former judges and government officials.
A panel of five judges questioned Law Minister Babar Awan in court, giving him two weeks to submit a “concise” report and adjourning until June 10 its case over the collapse of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“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.
The five-member panel repeatedly interrupted Awan, asking the law minister about re-opening cases against Zardari in Switzerland and steps being taken to bring back 60 million dollars lying in Swiss banks.
“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.
Wearing sunglasses, Awan told reporters after the hearing: “Rumours about a confrontation between the government and the judiciary have died down”.
He said the government “presented its point of view in a respectful manner” and welcomed the court's attitude as “very receptive”, saying the attorney general would represent the government at the next hearing.
Security was tight with police and paramilitary forces deployed outside the building as Awan arrived flanked by around a dozen other cabinet colleagues for the hearing packed with lawyers, former judges and government officials.
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