Gilani ordered to reopen cases against Zardari

Pakistan’s Supreme Court Thursday ordered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The orders were issued by a seven-member bench of the apex court that resumed hearing on the contempt case against Gilani for not taking action against the president.

The bench directed Gilani to write to the Swiss authorities and submit an implementation report March 21, reports Xinhua.

The country’s anti-corruption bureau said millions of dollars have been transferred to Swiss banks.

The opposition alleges the money belongs to Zardari and his slain spouse and ex-premier Benazir Bhutto who was killed in a terrorist attack in December 2007.

The court has already formally charged the prime minister for contempt of court.

Experts say he could be jailed or removed from the post.

The government has so far refused to write to Swiss authorities as the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) insists the president enjoys immunity under the constitution.

Zardari said in a TV interview a few months ago that writing to Swiss authorities will amount to putting the grave of his slain spouse on trial.

The apex court also said in its orders that the contempt hearing would continue against the prime minister as he is reluctant to obey the court’s previous orders.

The judges also ordered the attorney general to keep the court informed about any progress on the orders.