Pakistani President Loses Amnesty Shield, The Wall Street Journal, 17 December 2009
EXCERPT: "Pakistan's top court struck down a 2007 decree protecting President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials from past graft charges, in a ruling that could lead to a challenge to the legitimacy of his election. President Asif Ali Zardari's opponents are expected to challenge his eligibility for the presidency, based on the court's ruling. Pakistan's defense and interior ministers and some key advisers of the president were also sheltered by the amnesty decree. Many of them could now face prosecution. Mr. Zardari and other officials have denied wrongdoing. The ruling threatens to deepen turmoil in Pakistan at a time when the U.S. is counting on its help in fighting the Taliban. U.S. officials have been pressing Pakistan to expand counterinsurgency efforts in support of the troop surge across the border in Afghanistan. In a late-night decision Wednesday, a 17-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, declared the 2007 amnesty decree to be unconstitutional. It also ordered the restoration of all cases against Mr. Zardari, though as president he enjoys immunity from prosecution. Opposition politicians demanded he step down and face charges; his aides rejected the idea."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
Anti-corruption body bars 248 people from leaving Pakistan, The Guardian, 17 December 2009
Pakistan party demands Zardari resignation, BBC News, 17 December 2009
Gen Kayani calls on Zardari, Daily Times, 17 December 2009
The year of decision in Pakistan [blog], Foreign Policy // The AfPak Channel, 17 December 2009
NRO list out 34 politicians among 8,000 beneficiaries, DAWN, 22 November 2009
Related posts:
At the precipice: Is Pakistan about to fail?, 10 December 2009
Pakistan leader faces court test, militant attacks, 9 December 2009
Amnesty case stirs tension, charges challenged, 7 December 2009
