NRO implementation case: SC approves amended draft of letter | DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the amended draft of the letter to be written to Swiss authorities seeking to reopen a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari, DawnNews reported.

A five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, okayed the draft during a hearing of the NRO implementation case.

The approved draft states that in the light of the Supreme Court’s order, the letter sent by former attorney general Malik Qayyum should be considered void, adding that, it should be assumed that Qayyum’s letter had not been written and sent.

The draft moreover stated that all cases be reopened, adding that, President Zardari had the right of defence in the light of laws and the Constitution.

Earlier during the hearing, Law Minister Farooq H. Naek had presented the amended draft of the letter.

The law minister had said he was answerable to the judiciary, to the government and to God Almighty, adding that, he had not arrived in the court to violate the country’s laws.

Subsequently, the judges had retreated to their chamber with the amended draft.

Justice Khosa had stated the letter’s draft was satisfactory, even praiseworthy, adding that, it was the first time that an honest attempt had been made to write the letter.

To which, Naek had stated that the judges knew best how to dispense justice, adding that, the judges should allow the course of justice to come full circle.

The judge had then again retreated to their chamber for consultation and had subsequently approved the amended draft of the letter.

The case’s hearing was adjourned to Nov 14.

Earlier on Oct 5, the Supreme Court had given the government until Oct 10 to prepare a conclusive draft of the letter to be sent to Swiss authorities for the reopening of a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

However, on Oct 9, the hitherto perceived face-off between the judiciary and the executive over the language of the letter’s draft turned into a reality.

On Tuesday, the government moved a petition seeking a review of the Sept 18 order in which the court had spelt out four-pronged measures that also suggested monitoring by the court of the matter’s final disposition. The steps included vetting of the letter’s draft by the court before approval.

__________________
My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

Isey kehte hain so pyaz so jote,

Aitazaz Ahsan getting his ass kicked by media by claiming i said same thing but SC didn't agree, media reminding his ass court asked if u want to evoke presidential immunity you said no, u said no letter ever, the govt here said yes letter. Aitazaz man why you have to go down so much?

__________________
My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

hmm

nopes zardari got what he needed since the case would not be opened after 08/18 as it is now past the statute of limitations. I am surprised SC doesnt know this or is simply ignoring the fact.

dude it was never abt opening the cases and SC has no say what other countries do, it was the principal of law that once SC passed an order it has to be followed. In the end after so pyaz so jote they wrote the damn letter and couldnt get siyasi shahdat

__________________
My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

And dude, PPP's stand was never based on principal it was based on necessity, need to delay the letter till a date that the statute jumps in hence cases don't get opened. That's precisely what they did and scored a home run in making a fool of everybody. Now no letter would start any cases or freeze any accounts. But yes CJ can have the lollipop and suck on it that a letter has been written.

The SC can now celebrate whatever principles it wants to but the fact of the matter is that Zardari met his goals and objectives.

1st I dont agree that zardari is scott free, 2nd a precdent has been set he might win in short term long term its good for pak

__________________
My Blog: http://www.sohnidhurti.com

Oh maan jao. Zardari played a brilliant game and won !

The statue of limitations has expired and even if this status was reversed (highly unlikely) then all the evidence has been taken care of from what I understand. Wajih shamsul hassan wasn't moving all those boxes in switzerland for nothing!

Now your only hope is that zardari has done some stupid corruption this time around since behavior doesn't change even if his bank balance has changed for the better. NRO can be termed as Musharraf's revenge against the hoopla that the lawyers did against him post March 2007, though it is Pakistan that got screwed in the end. Musharraf was very constitutional in sending a reference to the SJC, but the lawyer tamasha the first time around pretty much killed any hopes of FDI along with the taliban tamasha starting in 2007. We really haven't recovered after that point.

__________________
ADMINS SUCK