InfoAnda - Zardari back in spotlight in Pakistan graft cases |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Taiwan dlr at 1-mth low on outflows; exporters buy | 13 January 2009
Building collapse kills eight in China | 3 October 2010
Videogame makers seek footing on shifting landscape | 27 February 2011

Libya postpones landmark election to July 7 | | 11 June 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Zardari back in spotlight in Pakistan graft cases |

Edition: U.S. Article Save Email Print Reprints Most Popular Most Shared Government set to unveil offshore drilling plan 29 Mar 2010 REFILE-UPDATE 4-Mini-Big Bangs created in cosmos origins project 30 Mar 2010 Obama wants U.N. sanctions on Iran in weeks | Video 5:11am EDT Sex infection gonorrhea risks becoming "superbug" 29 Mar 2010 Obama announces drilling expansion for climate push | Video 11:41am EDT Government set to unveil offshore drilling plan 29 Mar 2010 REFILE-UPDATE 4-Mini-Big Bangs created in cosmos origins project 30 Mar 2010 Obama announces drilling expansion for climate push | Video 11:41am EDT States high on pot tax as budget cure 30 Mar 2010 Theme park highlights challenges facing dwarfs | Video 27 Mar 2010 Pictures Editor's Choice A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow Zardari back in spotlight in Pakistan graft cases Chris Allbritton ISLAMABAD Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:01am EDT Related News Q+A: Pakistan's corruption cases threaten top officials 9:05am EDT Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari waits to speak at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, September 18, 2009. Credit: Reuters/Stephen Hird ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari faced more political turmoil on Wednesday as a lawyer for the anti-corruption agency said it had asked Switzerland to reopen old graft cases against him, signaling a Supreme Court challenge to his immunity as head of state. World But in an apparent setback to the court's prosecution of top officials for perceived corruption, the Swiss prosecutor-general said any case against Zardari could not be reopened -- because of his immunity. The dramatic back and forth comes after the Supreme Court last year ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to revive corruption cases against Zardari, many senior government officials and thousands of political activists. "In light of directions of the court on the revival of the Swiss cases, the NAB has initiated the process," said Abid Zuberi, an NAB lawyer. Swiss Prosecutor-General Daniel Zappelli also said his office had not yet received any request from Pakistan to reopen the case. At the heart of the issue is a 2007 amnesty law, which was thrown out by the Supreme Court in December on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. The amnesty had protected several thousand people -- including Zardari -- from old corruption charges and allowed their return to politics. Zardari spent 11 years in jail on various charges but was never convicted. The revival of the cases is set to herald a destabilizing face-off between the judiciary and the government. Because while Zardari may be shielded by his office, his friends and associates are not and there seems little evidence the Supreme Court will ease off on prosecuting the remaining local corruption charges. The amnesty law, known as the National Reconciliation Ordinance, was passed under former military president Pervez Musharraf and widely seen as the basis for a power-sharing deal between himself and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. She was assassinated in December 2007 after returning from self-imposed exile. Both Zardari and Bhutto were convicted by a Geneva court in 2003 of laundering $13 million linked to kickbacks. But that verdict was overturned on appeal. Swiss judicial authorities in August 2008 said they had closed the money-laundering case against Zardari and had released $60 million, frozen for a decade in Swiss accounts, after Pakistan dropped out of all cases it had initiated there. That's where things stood until Tuesday, when a senior official of the police's top investigation agency, Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, who was also a close associate of Zardari, was detained on the orders of the court after a similar case was revived against him. Though Zardari's aides say he is protected by presidential immunity, he may be vulnerable to legal challenges to his 2008 election as president on the grounds that other old corruption charges against him -- in addition to the Swiss case -- made him ineligible to stand for office in the first place. Zardari has had tense relations with the independent-minded Supreme Court chief, Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was sacked in 2007 by Musharraf. Zardari promised to reinstate Chaudhry after his party formed a government in 2008 but dragged his feet and only did so in March 2009 when protesting lawyers and opposition supporters were converging on the capital for a protest rally. ECONOMIC FALLOUT The political wrangling is hampering the government's ability to focus on economic issues, Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday, but it does not pose an immediate risk to its sovereign ratings. Moody's has a B3 sovereign rating for Pakistan with a stable outlook. And as a reminder of the violence that brought Zardari to power, a U.N. panel's report on Bhutto's assassination was due to be presented Tuesday but was delayed until April 15 at Zardari's request. "We requested them to include the views of three countries which had warned (Bhutto) after her return that she should take extra precaution because they had information she would be assassinated," said presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar. He declined to identify the three countries he said had warned Bhutto. Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack after an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007, weeks after she came back from eight years in self-imposed exile. In the Khyber tribal region near the Afghan border meanwhile, 20 Taliban militants and five Pakistani soldiers were killed in a firefight in which dozens of militants carrying automatic weapons and rockets attacked a security post Tuesday night, an official said. The official added that in addition to the 20 militants killed, Pakistani forces wounded 35 Taliban. There is no way to independently confirm the government's statements. (Additional reporting by Kamran Haider, Zeeshan Haider, Augustine Antony and Michael Georgy; Editing by Robert Birsel and Nick Macfie) (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here) World More from Reuters Private sector sheds 23,000 jobs in March NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. private employers unexpectedly shed more jobs in March, dampening hopes for job growth ahead of Friday's key employment report. Anglo Irish Bank posts $17 billion loss Obama announces drilling expansion for climate push | Video Talks over EMI's U.S. licensing deal off: sources Rite Aid forecast worse than expected; shares down Irish banks look beyond "bad bank," recession » More Top News Coming soon: Offshore drilling President Obama is hoping that a plan to allow oil and gas exploration off the coast of Virginia will kill three birds with one stone. Full Article Video: Short and long term impact Deepwater drillers have room to grow Poll: Do you support offshore drilling? Oil and Gas Exploration Goodbye, Federal Reserve Hello Fannie and Freddie. The Fed ends its $1.25 trillion mortgage bond buying binge, but there's good news for the housing market. Full Article All okay without the Fed? A buying opportunity? Housing Market © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Analyst Research Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Labs Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Europe risks 'second league' of world economies: IMF
Want to see the iPad? So do Apple store employees
Top US commander visits Afghan frontline
CERN scientists closer to understanding Big
Palestinian killed as Israelis fire on protestors
Putin orders Russia to hunt down bombing militants
Nigeria court confirms Twitter chat ban on amputation
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
Atom smasher opens 'new era' for science
Taiwan design house files complaint against Apple
Part of Nero's ancient palace collapses in Rome
Elephants move like 4x4s: scientists
Maliki is block in Iraq coalition merger talks |
Berlusconi's coalition score gains in regional poll
Britain emerges from recession with new growth upgrade
Coal fuels much of Internet "cloud", says Greenpeace
Palestinian PM ploughs ahead with future state
Rights at issue as U.N. chief tours Central Asia |
Australia reveals prototype 'bionic' eye
Google searches trigger error messages in China
Facebook veterans in venture capital spotlight
Turkey asks Germany for help if EU bid stalls |
Colombia rebels to free hostage held over a decade |
Nigerian airports start installing body scanners |
2 detained for dead babies found along China river
U.N. Bhutto assassination inquiry report delayed
Thai Red Shirt protesters reject more govt talks
Thai reds refuse more talks, plan fresh weekend demo
Obama signs final healthcare changes, defends law
Iran nuclear drive in focus at G8 talks
Leaks reported at China mine days before flood
Obama signs package of final healthcare changes
Vietnam signs nuclear energy pact with US
Kashima first into AFC Champions League knockouts
US general apologises for anti-gay remarks
Top US commander visits Afghan war frontline
Journalists in China say Yahoo accounts hacked
Want to see the iPad? So do Apple store employees |
China's Geely to spend 2.7 billion dollars buying Volvo
Kijiji begone: EBay rebrands classified site |
Bombardier signs credit deal with China's CDB
Peru's Machu Picchu reopens
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Honda to create 400 jobs in Canada
Author Stephenie Meyer to release "Eclipse" novella
China should adjust yuan before September: PBOC adviser
Maldives to host Akon's aborted Sri Lanka concert
US fund Steel Partners fails to oust Japan's Sapporo chiefs
Bordeaux uncorks blockbuster vintage, eyes China
India's Bharti clinches deal to buy Zain assets
Chinese director's film evokes civil war's cost
Work begins on Cambodian hydropower project
"Titans" Worthington fights his way to film stardom
Morgan Stanley, Mitsubishi UFJ to merge operations
Online Muslim sex shop launched in the Netherlands
Standard Chartered to raise $500 mln in India
Bruce Lee's wife, daughter open Hong Kong exhibit
Singer Badu causes stir with nude video at JFK site |
Rip Torn exits rehab and pleads not guilty |
Palestinian teen killed as Israelis fire on Gaza protests
Afghanistan now also world's top hashish producer: UN
Nine dead in blasts in Russia's Dagestan: police
Obama wants U.N. sanctions on Iran in weeks |
US-TECH Summary
Iranian nuclear scientist defects to U.S.
EU subsidies have encouraged overfishing: study
Kandahar is NATO's next Afghanistan challenge
Death toll rises to 11 in south Russian bombings |
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
What, or who, killed the last mammoths?
sidesteps report of China hack of journalists' email
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
Putin orders Moscow bombers scraped from sewers |
Kijiji begone: EBay rebranding U.S. classified site
Obama wants Iran sanctions within 'weeks'
'.yu' country code domain for Yugoslavia finally obsolete
China uproar over dead babies dumped near river |
Google says China's "great firewall" blocked search
Web attacks hit Vietnam bauxite activists: Google |
U.S. seeks 4-month Jerusalem building freeze: report |
Muslim scholars recast jihadists' favorite fatwa |
Haiti hopes for $4 billion to rebuild after quake |
Afghanistan world's top cannabis source: U.N. |
Turkey asks Germany for help if EU bid stalls |
US wants 4-month Jerusalem building freeze: media
Mexico gang leader 'confesses' in US diplomat killing
Iranian nuclear scientist defects to US: report
Iran can't continue 'mad' nuclear race: Sarkozy
Sarkozy aims to rekindle US ties in White House talks
Obama signs final healthcare changes, defends law
Five soldiers, 25 rebels killed in Pakistan clash
China drought leaves 24 million short of drinking water
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan |
US, China change tone but disputes lie ahead
NZ moves to change divisive shore ownership law
Australian faces 15-year term in Bali drug case
Baruto becomes first Estonian 'ozeki' sumo wrestler
Taiwan auctions 30-yr govt bond at 2.23 pct yield
Seoul shares slip, post 0.6 pct gain on Q1
Chinese interest rules the auction world
China safety body says rules ignored in mine flood
Astronaut Aldrin still "Dancing," Doherty dumped
China blames poor safety for mine disaster
S.Korea c.bank's Lee calls for better relations with gov't
S.Korea military on alert after warship sinking
Two vintage L.A. theaters saved from closure
Google pegs China search trouble to 'Great Firewall'
US churches find no salvation from bad economy
Easter eggs may be good for you, study suggests
PAKISTAN
Michael Jackson's father plans wrongful death suit |
Astronaut Aldrin still Dancing, Doherty dumped |
Two vintage L.A. theaters saved from closure |
Miley Cyrus all grown up in new movie |
Suicide attack kills seven Afghan farmers: official
Eurozone inflation sharply up to 1.5%
Google says Vietnam political blogs hacked
Bomb attack kills 13 in crowded Afghan market
Suicide bomber targets police in new Russia attack
Zardari back in spotlight in Pakistan graft cases |
Kandahar is 'cornerstone' of Afghan war: Mullen
German jobless rate drops unexpectedly
Ericsson wins $1.3 billion India deal
Afghan peace talks end with no headway, more expected |
12 dead in new Russia suicide bomb attack
Putin to meet top U.S. foes in Venezuela |
Iraq's Sadrists propose vote on PM choice |
Divided Serbia apologizes for Srebrenica massacre |
UK hung parliament risk up |
3 trapped gold miners drown in Philippine tunnel
Rocket prepared for Soyuz space launch
Philippines defends record after EU plane ban
N.Korea's Kim likely to visit China soon: Seoul
Ford, Microsoft align to recharge cars |
Google: Online attacks aimed at Vietnam critics
Georgia Sen. Isakson Readmitted To Hospital
Superman Sets Super Sale Record
Stabbings, Moscow Attacks Underscore Dismal State Of Security Cameras In New York Subway
Pre-dawn Pakistan violence kills 32
Insurance Companies Agree To Adhere To New Regulations
Man Commits Suicide By Jumping Off Empire State Building
Fugitive Thaksin continues global wanderings
University Travel Ban To Haiti Keeps Florida Students From Showing Film
CERN pushes Big Bang machine to new science frontier |
Four Dead, Six Wounded In D.C. Drive-by Shooting
China official denies cutting off water to SE Asia
Man Shoots Wife's Dog, Passes Out While Trying To Bury The Animal
Australian "Ned Kelly" painting sells for record
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
Miley Cyrus all grown up in new movie
Michael Jackson's father plans wrongful death suit
Taiwan and China discuss trade pact
Rip Torn exits rehab and pleads not guilty
Pakistan stocks gain, foreign inflows help sentiment
Ericsson wins $1.3 bln India contract
Singer Badu causes stir with nude video at JFK site
China's CNOOC says '09 profit falls 34 pct
Google service disruption bodes ill for Chinese
Ericsson wins $1.3 billion India deal |
Sony to sell liquid crystal display plant to Kyocera
WRAPUP 1-South Korean president cements low interest rate view
China shares mixed after a 3-day rally
Tourist falls into active volcano crater on Bali
Philippines insists its airlines safe despite EU ban
Madonna and daughter collaborate on fashion line |
Lady Gaga back atop UK album charts midweek |
Stephen King puts the frights into baseball |
Australian Ned Kelly painting sells for record |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01