Islamabad, January 28: Pakistan government is prepared to reopen graft cases in Swiss courts against President Asif Ali Zardari but he enjoys immunity from prosecution under the constitution, a right that can be taken away only by the parliament, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani said today.
Speaking in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament, Gilani said the constitution has provided immunity to the President. This immunity was provided by parliament, which comprises the National Assembly, Senate and the President.
“If the parliament withdraws this provision, we are ready to take action… nobody can re-write the constitution of Pakistan. It is only this House (parliament), which is sovereign,” he said.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court last month struck down a graft amnesty that benefited over 8,000 people, including Zardari and several close aides.
The court also directed the government to reopen all corruption cases in Pakistan and abroad that were closed under the amnesty.
Since then, opposition political parties have been urging the government to reopen cases against Zardari.
The government will cooperate with the judiciary and other authorities to reopen all cases that were withdrawn under the graft amnesty, he said. Gilani said there was no threat to the system or democracy due to the apex court’s ruling and there would not be a clash among institutions of the state.
All institutions, including parliament, executive and judiciary, are playing their respective roles, he added.
He also said the government is committed to the balance of power between the presidency and parliament.
The President’s decision to transfer the chairmanship of the National Command Authority, which controls Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, from himself to the Prime Minister reflected this position, Gilani said.
It is also unthinkable that the President will use his sweeping powers to dissolve parliament and dismiss the premier when the government is headed by his own party, Gilani said.
Democracy must prevail as Pakistan cannot afford another dictatorship and power should be shared between the government and the opposition but not with other non-political forces, he said.
-PTI