LAHORE - In the first formal denial to comply with the apex court decision to open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has said it is the constitution that prevents writing of the Swiss letter.

The government believes in the supremacy of the constitution and law, the successor of Yousuf Raza Gilani told columnists and editors at the Governor House. Gilani had lost his office for deifying Supreme Court order that he write to Swiss authorities for reopening of graft cases against his party boss President Asif Ali Zardari and others.
Class (un)conscious Raja went on to utter, “We will not let our first class president to capitulate to a third class magistrate, as the constitution stands against it. Rounding off his reply over the issue, he said their stance over the letter would “become known on July 12”.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who faces an inquiry ordered by the apex court into the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) scandal that dates back to his tenure as water and power minister, said there would be no problem in the country if all institutions in the country worked within their ambit.
He said the RPPs were not understood properly, though he acknowledged he could not accurately clarify his statements regarding the energy crisis in the country. “The statement given in December 2009 regarding the end to loadshedding, still hounds me.“ But he insisted that “electricity crisis is the first priority” of his government.
Commenting on law and order situation in Sindh, particularly Karachi, the prime minister said that army cannot be sent everywhere. After the 18th amendment, maintenance of order is now responsibility of the provinces. “However, the federal government will be willing to help if the Sindh government asks for it.“
The federal government, he said, was hesitant at sending in the army because it may turn out to be the wrong prescription to remedy the situation. He said that army was patriotic and it was rendering enormous sacrifices for the country and has played leading role in natural calamities.The premier urged all the political parties to shun their differences.