NRO implementation: PM Raja to reply in SC today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will reply today whether or not he will write a letter to the Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Supreme Court (SC) has sought reply from the premier on the last hearing.

Hearing the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) Implementation case, a three-member bench comprising Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh had directed Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir to consult with the prime minister in this regard.

It should be mentioned here that the court, on March 8, directed the then prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to write the letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening the graft cases against President Zardari, regardless of the advice, and submit a report on March 21 after implementation of the order.

But, Gilani refused to do so and the court subsequently on April 26 convicted him on contempt charge.

Later, the court disqualified Gilani on June 19 while hearing numerous identical petitions against National Assembly speaker's decision of not sending the reference to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against him.