Pak law secretary resigns over Zardari Swiss cases controversy
May 8th, 2010 - 3:07 pm ICT by ANIIslamabad, May 8 (ANI): In an apparent bid to avoid confrontation with the Supreme Court, Pakistan Law Secretary Justice (retired) Muhammad Aqil Mirza has resigned from his post.
Mirza cited health reasons for his resignation, however sources said the main reason behind him stepping down was that he didnot want to appear before the apex court in the sou motu hearing of a case concerning the Swiss graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The hearing is scheduled to take place on May 13, The Daily Times reports.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar-ul-Haq had told the Supreme Court that Mirza had made it clear that the Swiss cases had been closed and that there was no need for any communication with the Swiss government to reopen the multi-million dollar money laundering cases.
Cases against Zardari and 157 others were reopened after the Supreme Court declared the controversial amnesty law, the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as ‘unconstitutional’ last December.
Zardari and and her assassinated wife Benazir Benazir , were convicted by a Geneva court in 2003 of laundering 13 million dollars linked to kickbacks, but that verdict was overturned on appeal. In 2008, Swiss judicial authorities said they had closed the file related to the case. (ANI)
- Awan to appear before SC to explain government's stance on Swiss case against Zardari - May 15, 2010
- SC made 'mistake' by asking to reopen Swiss graft cases against Zardari: Pak Govt. - Jun 07, 2010
- Pak SC turns heat on govt to reopen Swiss cases against Zardari - Sep 22, 2010
- Evidence submitted in Gilani's contempt case - Feb 22, 2012
- Gilani offers to quit after apex court contempt notice (Second Lead) - Jan 16, 2012
- Zardari corruption cases: Attorney general sends note to PM - Sep 24, 2010
- Swiss graft case against Zardari can't be reopened: Government - May 06, 2010
- Pakistan's apex court issues Gilani contempt notice (Lead) - Jan 16, 2012
- Attorney general gets court order in Zardari case - Mar 10, 2012
- Gilani offers to quit after apex court contempt notice (Third Lead) - Jan 16, 2012
- Pakistan parliament passes resolution supporting Gilani (Night Lead) - Jan 17, 2012
- Gilani won't ask Switzerland to reopen cases against Zardari - Feb 10, 2012
- Pak Law Secretary to SC: Swiss cases against Zardari can't be reopened - May 06, 2010
- First for Pakistan, PM indicted for contempt (Second Lead) - Feb 13, 2012
- Gilani indicted for contempt (Lead) - Feb 13, 2012
Tags: amnesty law, anwar, apex, apex court, aqil, asif ali, benazir, confrontation, dollar money, health reasons, judicial authorities, kickbacks, law secretary, money laundering, national reconciliation, nro, pakistan law, supreme court pakistan, swiss government, ul haq