Quashed cases can be reopened against Zardari, SC warns

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday forewarned the legal counsel of former president Asif Ali Zardari that quashed cases of corruption can be reopened against his client if the Supreme Court decrees. 

The apex court bench was hearing the arguments of the defense counsel on the review petition of Asif Ali Zardari against the court’s order to submit asset details in National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case.

The top judge remarked, the court had not said anything to the former president and merely sought his asset details. “The Supreme Court can also order reopening of the quashed cases,” Justice Nisar cautioned.

Passing its order on the petition of accused, the bench summoned the asset details of Asif Ali Zardari and his children within 15 days.

The purpose of seeking asset details was to ensure sheer justice, the Supreme Court stressed.

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari filed a review petition challenging the orders of the Supreme Court seeking foreign asset details in the National Reconciliation Order case.

Zardari, in his petition, contended that the court order violates Articles 4 (right to be dealt in accordance with the law), 175 (jurisdiction of the court) and 187 (execution of the court’s orders) of the Constitution.

On July 4, the apex court summoned the details of foreign assets owned by all the respondents including Asif Ali Zardari, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf and former attorney general Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum in National Reconciliation Order (NRO) case.

The top court ordered all respondents to submit their affidavits declaring the details regarding their foreign bank accounts, offshore companies and those of their children as well.