Zardari fights for survival as Pak SC declares amnesty law 'unconstitutional' - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

In a major blow to President Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan Supreme Court has declared the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which provided amnesty to political leaders against any corruption charges, as 'unconstitutional'. The verdict of the 17-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhury is likely to stir up more turmoil in the country weakening the Presidency further. Petitions challenging Zardari's eligibility as a presidential candidate are expected to follow from the court's ruling, and about a dozen senior members of Zardari's coterie of advisers will most likely face renewed corruption cases, The New York Times reports. However, Presidential spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, stressed both Zardari and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) respects the court's verdict, and that it would not affect the immunity enjoyed by the President. "We believe that no criminal case can be instituted or continued in any court against a president or a governor during the term of office. So, this doesn't affect the president of Pakistan. Regarding other matters, the law will take its course and we will see what happens," the newspaper quoted Babar, as saying. Zardari's close aide, Babar Awan, too rebuffed opposition's call for President's resignation, saying he would complete his term in office. During the hearing, which was closely followed and scrutinized by the Pakistani media, the court raised objections, in particular, over the question of who had authorized the return of 60 million dollars in suspect gains by Zardari to foreign companies in his name after the government withdrew criminal proceedings against him in Switzerland last year. The Supreme Court, in its verdict, said that the withdrawal of the cases against Zardari in Switzerland, which was ordered by the former Attorney General, Malik Qayyum, was illegal and that the government should contact the Swiss authorities to restore the proceedings. While the repercussion of the apex court's monumental judgement is yet to be seen, but it has certainly added fuel to the country's troubles, which is already fighting for its survival under the barrage of terror attacks being carried out by the Taliban and other militants organisations.