Pakistan: ‘Perfect solution’ firmly in sight

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The Supreme Court on Friday granted more time to the government in the contempt notice against the Prime Minister for failing to write the letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in line with para 178 of the National Reconciliation ordinance verdict on Friday. Adjourning the hearing till October 10, a five-judge special bench, led by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, said: “we are only inches away from the perfect solution in the instant matter, which will uphold the dignity of the court and address the government concerns as well”. Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek submitted the revised draft of the letter before the bench, saying it had been prepared in accordance with the observations of the court and para 178 of the NRO judgment. He said: “I am appearing as representative of the government and not as a private party in the case”. Terming the matter ‘sensitive’, Naek pleaded that to understand the court’s reservations and to convey its concern to the Prime Minister, he may be heard in the chamber for 15 minutes. After examining the draft, justices went to their chambers for consultations and summoned Naek. Returning a few minutes later, the bench observed that the court found the first two paragraphs of the letter in consonance with the spirit of the para 178 of the NRO judgment. However, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa observed that the last paragraph of the draft was incompatible with the first two paragraphs and did not conform with the judgment that called for revival of the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari Soon after the bench began writing a short order on which the government sought more time to improve the draft upon which Farooq H Naek said he had made no such commitment, adding that he had requested for more time for consultation with the Prime Minister on the matter. Later, hearing was adjourned till October 10. After the hearing, Farooq H Naek said that the President enjoyed immunity under Article-248 of the Constitution. Commenting on the close-door deliberations, he clarified that such deliberation were meant to foil anti-state forces and maintained that the system would not be allowed to be derailed.