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Pakistan

Govt gets deadline to write Swiss letter by Aug 8

Dunya News

The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of NRO implementation case till August 8.

The Supreme Court extended till August 8 the deadline for Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to approach Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, a case that had cost the Prime Minister’s predecessor his job.During today’s hearing, Attorney General Irfan Qadir requested that the case be put off till after Eid-ul-Fitr but a five-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa rejected his plea and adjourned the matter for two weeks.Attorney General also objected to Justice Khosa’s presence in the bench, claiming that he was prejudiced.He asked Justice Khosa to distance himself from the case but the bench rejected this request too.Justice Khosa said he would immediately quit the bench if he had any prejudice.The judges will not do anything that can harm the country or derail the democratic system, he said adding that the judges stand for democracy and want it to be strengthened.“How can you level charges of prejudice against me?” Justice Khosa asked. He further said the judges respected the President as much as anyone else.But the Attorney General said he was concerned at the apex court’s order of July 12 to the Prime Minister to revive the graft cases and to file a compliance report to the court.The Attorney General further said the government intends to file a petition seeking the review of July 12 verdict.Justice Khosa remarked that the federation can file an appeal by August 8.