President immune from prosecution, says
Naek
ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek on Friday said the
government wished to resolve the issue of the Swiss letter amicably and added
that the president enjoyed immunity from prosecution under the country’s
Constitution, DawnNews reported.Naek said the first two paragraphs of the letter to be sent to Swiss authorities for reopening a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari were in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives.
According to Naek, the judges hearing the case expressed their reservations regarding the draft of the letter and he and his client expressed their reservations as well.
Speaking to media representatives outside the Supreme Court, he said a decision over the final version of the letter was yet to be taken.
He added that the letter had been drafted in accordance with the apex court’s directives and that it had also been approved by the prime minister.
Naek reiterated that the Constitution was clear on the issue of presidential immunity.
Moreover, he said that any decisions that will be made would be in the greater national interest and would consider the three pillars of the state. He said in democracies, decisions could not be made without consultations, adding that, the government would remain flexible in resolving the matter.
He added that many sacrifices had been made for democracy and therefore, those who were aiming to derail the country’s democratic process would not be allowed to succeed.
NRO case: Court gives govt until Oct 10
to finalise draft of Swiss letter
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday gave the government until Oct
10 to prepare a conclusive draft of the letter to be sent to Swiss authorities
for the reopening of a graft case against President Asif Ali Zardari, DawnNews
reported.A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa issued the directive after a hearing in the NRO imeplementation case.
Earlier today, the bench reviewed the letter’s draft submitted by Law Minister Farooq H. Naek.
Justice Khosa said the draft was not in spirit of the court’s order, adding that, that the first and second paragraphs of the draft were in accordance with the court’s order but the third paragraph conflicted with the first two paragraphs as well as with the court’s order.
Justice Khosa further said that the last paragraph of the letter’s draft needed reviewing and that the matter was just inches away from a resolution.
After the bench expressed its reservations, Naek requested for 15 minutes’ time to address the court’s reservations.
The minister said he had made the request for more time in the greater national interest and asked the court to not reveal the contents of the letter in public.
Upon which, Justice Khosa said that hiding the letter’s contents could lead to questions of transparency.
Granting the minister’s request, Justice Khosa said the matter was nearing a resolution which was why the court would give the government more time.
He further said that it took a long time for the government to reach the current point, adding that, all the work done in the past could not simply be wasted.
The court took a recess during which Naek was summoned to the judges’ chamber.
Later, Naek requested the bench to give him time until Oct 10 to consult with Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on the letter’s draft. The request was granted by the court and the case’s hearing was subsequently adjourned to Oct 10.
Earlier during the hearing, Naek had presented before the court the amended draft of the letter.
Naek had requested the judges to review the letter’s draft and inform in case they had any reservations over it.
After which, the judges had retired to their chamber to review the draft.
Prior to the start of the hearing, Naek had told reporters that he hoped that the matter would be resolved today, adding that, he always had a positive approach on the matter.
The law minister had further said that the government would implement the order of the Supreme Court.
LATEST/BRIEF NEWS:
PAKISTAN
o Nato tanker set ablaze in Mastung
o Fire breaks our in Karachi factory
o KSE keeps breaking its own records
o Rupee dips all time low against dollar
o IMF cuts India growth forecast to
6 pct for 2013
o Energy woes major obstacle in
Pakistan’s growth: IMF
o SC again raises objection on draft
Swiss letter
o Russian army seeks Pak cooperation as
Kayani visits Moscow
o India test-fires Prithvi-II missile
o Karzai outlines preconditions for
Pakistan strategic pact
WORLD |
o
Romney goes on offensive
in first debate with Obama
o
Using his own blood,
New York artist paints "Resurrection" exhibit
o
Analysis: Romney
scores in debate, but will it be enough?
o
Exclusive: Euro zone
considering bond insurance for Spain - sources
o
Turkey strikes back
at Syria, says will protect borders
o
Shops stay closed in
Tehran bazaar after clashes
o
Poll shows dead heat
in Connecticut Senate race
o
Four Qaeda militants
killed in U.S. drone strike
o
Island plans by
Tokyo's nationalist governor may stoke fresh China tensions
o
ECB holds interest
rates as inflation offsets growth concerns
o
HP's
outlook disappoints, shares hit nine-year low
o
Romney stresses he
wants bank regulation, but slams Obama reforms
o
Romney: cuts in tax
breaks for oil, gas "on the table"
o
Clinton pledges full
accounting of deadly Benghazi attack
o
Romney, Obama both
like Simpson-Bowles plan, to a point
o
U.S. companies add
jobs in September, service sector expands
o
Florida opens
criminal probe into voter registration firm
o
Father of bodyguard
injured in Libya questions State Dept. response
o
Mexican troops
arrest two in killing of U.S. border agent: officials
o
Palestinian U.N.
status likely to be debated in November
o
Record $104 million
reward boosts whistleblowing on tax cheats
o
HP's
outlook disappoints, driving shares to 9-year low
o
French opposition
seeks more savings, less tax in 2013 budget
o
Father of bodyguard
injured in Libya questions State Dept. response
o
Presidential debate
seen as potential turning point for Romney
o
Turkey strikes back
at Syria after mortar kills five
o
Woes deepen in
Europe and China; U.S. the bright spot
o
Reuters/Ipsos polls
show scope of challenge facing Romney
o
Netanyahu-Barak spat
stokes early Israel vote talk
o
Butler stole papers
pope wanted destroyed: police
o
HP expects
enterprise services revenue to fall in 2013
o
Turkey strikes
targets inside Syria after mortar attack
o
U.S. had early
indications Libya attack tied to organized militants
o
Libya PM government
line-up omits liberal coalition
o
Spain's tax
take tumbles as companies go abroad
o
Exclusive: Best Buy
founder presses on with buyout plan
o
Michelle Obama
rallies supporters as early voting opens in Ohio
o
Insight: Delays dog
U.S. government loans to green energy projects
o
Probe into fatal
Hong Kong ferry collision may take six months
o
U.S. companies add
162,000 jobs in September
o
China services PMI
falls to lowest in nearly two years
o
Analysis: Maturing
Belgian biotechs outshine European peers
o
Analysis: Is Sony
buying time - or problems?
o
Spain meets debt
hurdle on rescue hopes
o
Israeli newspapers
struggle to survive in digital world
o
Google warns of more
cuts at Motorola, third-quarter cuts to cost $340 million
o
Spain central bank
governor says deficit targets at risk
o
France readies
budget climb-down after business uproar
o
Deeper recession
poses biggest risk to Spain rating: Fitch
o
Euro gains ahead of
ECB meeting, shares volatile
o
Oil India, IOC buy
stake in U.S. shale assets for $82.5 million
o
South Africa strikes
hurt rand as bond boost wears off
o
S.Africa strikes
hurt rand as bond boost wears off
o
Gold in rand hits
record high
o
World food prices
rise, stay close to crisis levels: FAO
o
Standard Chartered
board moves offer brief respite from Temasek pressure
Business News:
IMF warns Pakistan
economy deteriorating
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday that
Pakistan’s economic situation was worsening and faces a return to double-digit
inflation as the government prints money to finance its deficit.In a mission report, the IMF said Islamabad urgently needed to address deep problems in its energy sector, including costly subsidies and poor distribution, while boosting growth to meet a rapidly growing population.
“Pakistan faces a challenging economic outlook. GDP growth in 2012/13 is projected to be in the 3-3.5 per cent range, which needs to accelerate in order to absorb the growing labour force,” the IMF said.
“Inflation has fallen recently but is expected to be back in double digits by the middle of next year if corrective measures are not taken to reverse monetary financing of the fiscal deficit.” It said the country’s external accounts are deteriorating, with incoming investment slowing and the central bank’s reserves dropping.
“Decisive and far-sighted action is needed to address this challenging outlook,” including raising taxes and cutting expenditures, especially subsidies, the IMF said.
It warned that allowing inflation to rise is hurting the population at large.
“Underlying inflation remains high and represents a regressive tax that disproportionately hurts the poor,” the IMF said.
EXCHANGE FOR CURRENCY NOTES:
U.S.A 95.85
S.Arabia 25.53
U.K 154.32
Japan 1.2191
Euro 123.88
U.A.E 26.10
BULLION RATES IN
RUPEES PER 10 GRAMS
KARACHI
|
No comments:
Post a Comment