Swiss cases reopening needs PM's nod

ISLAMABAD All eyes are set on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday categorically said that all the cases dropped under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which was termed null and void by the apex court on December 16, 2009, would be reopened including Swiss cases, as the PM has yet to sign the letter written by NAB Chairman last week, TheNation has learnt. Only Prime Ministers directions are needed to reopen all 8,041 dropped cases to fulfil the Supreme Courts order, the NAB Chairman wrote in his 110 pages reply, which was submitted in Registrars office of Supreme Court here on Wednesday. Although the report was not handed over to media persons, yet the Court sources informed this reporter that the reply contended, All subordinate departments -Law Ministry, NAB and Attorney General for Pakistan - were not ready to take the responsibility with regard to reopening of Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Chairman NAB Naved Ahsan further wrote in his reply that they had completed the whole process to implement the courts order to reopen the cases, the sources informed. The ball is now in the court of Prime Minister, who has to take the final decision in implementing courts order, the source explained. I sacked deputy prosecutor NAB Abdul Baseer Qureshi but I could not remove Prosecutor General NAB Dr Danishwar Malik. However, I recommended his removal in the letter written to the Prime Minister, Naved further wrote in his reply adding, We need some time to fulfil courts order in letter and spirit. Earlier, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had summoned the NAB Chairman on Friday last in Banker City case and had directed him not only to sack his prosecutor general and additional prosecutor general but also write to the Swiss authorities within forty-eight hours to get the closed corruption cases reopened. Dr Asghar Ahmad Rana, Deputy Prosecutor General Punjab NAB, apologised to give any information to this scribe saying that he himself was not allowed to read the reply being submitted on behalf of NAB Chairman in the court. Deputy Prosecutor General NAB Balochistan Raja Amer and Admin Officer NAB Zahir Shah were also present there. All official documents have been kept secret on the directions of NAB Chairman, one of the officials said when the journalists present in the premises of the apex court repeatedly asked various questions. Meanwhile, sources informed this reporter that Attorney General for Pakistan offered his resignation rather than giving an opinion on the Swiss cases against President Zardari in the meeting with Prime Minister on Wednesdays evening. However, Secretary Law while talking to TheNation didnt confirm that Attorney General offered resignation. The Attorney General while talking to media persons totally denied the rumour regarding his resignation. Earlier, the NAB Chairman called on Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan in the Supreme Court. He discussed issues with regard to implementation of the apex courts 16th December. Naved informed the Attorney General that he could not do more as he had handed over the whole summary of the cases to Prime Minister Gilani. However, informed sources disclosed to TheNation that the officials of Law Ministry and NAB including the Attorney General had prepared solid grounds to meet the courts demands as well as to cope with all the issues as the final decision would be taken by the Prime Minister House. It is worth mentioning here that after the apex courts verdict, over 8,000 criminal and corruption cases against bureaucrats and politicians were reopened. In this context the court directed the Federation that the cases against President Zardari pending before courts in Switzerland should be reopened through a letter to Swiss authorities.

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