Pak refutes SC order to reopen graft case against Zardari

Islamabad: Pakistan’s government has told the Supreme Court it will not reopen an old corruption case against the president, defying a judicial order that led to the ouster of the country’s prime minister.

Attorney General Irfan Qadir said in a court session Wednesday that the new premier, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, also refused to write a letter to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen the graft case because President Asif Ali Zardari enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office. [caption id=“attachment_390499” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Pakistan has refused to reopen graft cases against Zardari.[/caption] The lead judge, Asif Saeed Khosa, demanded Ashraf write the letter. But he also seemed to soften the court’s stance, saying the judges would respect the president’s immunity if the government wrote the letter. It’s unclear whether the judge’s comments will alter the government’s stance. The next hearing is scheduled for August 8. AP