Zardari grants pardon to interior minister Malik

[Chappal Chor]

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari granted a pardon and remitted two prison terms given to close aide and interior minister Rehman Malik, hours after a Pakistani court dismissed the minister's appeal against his conviction in two corruption cases.

Using his constitutional powers, Zardari remitted the prison terms handed down to Malik, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

The pardon was granted under Article 45 of the constitution on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani which "was tendered late on Monday night", Babar said.

Article 45 of the constitution empowers the president to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by a court.

The development occurred late on Monday night. Malik, a close confidant of the president, is out of the country and there were earlier unconfirmed reports that he might not return to Pakistan till the matter of the prison sentence was settled.

Earlier in the day, a two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court headed by Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif dismissed Malik's plea against his conviction by an anti-corruption court and restored the two three-year prison terms awarded to him.

The court's ruling on Monday put immense pressure on Malik to resign before filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Lahore High Court's decision.

Malik, who was sentenced by anti-corruption court in absentia in 2004, has maintained that he was victimised due to political reasons during his absence from Pakistan under a law specially crafted by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf for targeting political opponents.

After the Supreme Court scrapped the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that benefited Zardari and Malik, last year, the two cases against the interior minister, in which he was given the prison terms, were reopened by the anti-corruption court.

Malik was accused of receiving two luxury cars as graft and taking away 20 tolas of gold and Rs 700,000 from the house of a suspect during a raid by the Federal Investigation Agency in the mid-1990s.

He was then an assistant director of the FIA. The interior minister then filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the anti-corruption court's sentence. Following this, the high court suspended the ruling of the anti-corruption court and granted Malik bail.

During Monday's hearing, Malik's counsel argued that no notice was sent to his client to appear before the court.

The verdict given in his absence is "illegal" and the court should "halt the punishment orders" against Malik, the counsel said.

Legal experts were of the view that Malik could be arrested following the high court's order.

"The minister is in the dock as even if he moves the Supreme Court against the decision of the Lahore High Court, he will first have to resign from office," said advocate Muneeb Ahmed.


Zardari grants pardon to interior minister Malik - Pakistan - World - The Times of India

 

[Aslan]

Zardari to Malik:



Dont worry dude I got your back!

Pakistan ka Allah hafiz.

 

[Chappal Chor]

why is zardari so keen at doing suicide.

 

[Aslan]

why is zardari so keen at doing suicide.

Zardari needs Malik more then the other way around. And if Zardari had let go of this monkey today then tom he would have been next. Both the thief's and all the others with them need each other. They know that sooner or latter they will have it coming to them, so for now as for as long as possible they want to hold on to wht ever straws they can.

 

[Chappal Chor]

Zardari needs Malik more then the other way around. And if Zardari had let go of this monkey today then tom he would have been next. Both the thief's and all the others with them need each other. They know that sooner or latter they will have it coming to them, so for now as for as long as possible they want to hold on to wht ever straws they can.

But i have been interacting with people here on the forum. There seems to be a no clear person who enjoys the support in Pakistan. I mean some support Musharraf and some others. Replacing Zardari would be like " Meet the new boss, just like old boss"

 

[Aslan]

But i have been interacting with people here on the forum. There seems to be a no clear person who enjoys the support in Pakistan. I mean some support Musharraf and some others. Replacing Zardari would be like " Meet the new boss, just like old boss"

I understand what you are saying, but unfortunately this bunch of corrupt leaders have become more like thugs holding onto the power. And when some one try to argue with them they will try to restrain you with as much as they can and if it wont work then there is always the BB shaheed card that they play. But wht we need is an overhaul of the system, and a movement in the new direction. Away from the Sharifs, away from the chaudries, and definitely away from the bunch of clowns that are there at present. Unfortunately at present no such contender is in the view, but lets wait and watch. When ever there is a Pharaoh Allah will always send a Moosa.

 

[Patriot]

Nothing wrong with this.President Zardari has constitutional right to grant amnesty.

 

[Chappal Chor]

I understand what you are saying, but unfortunately this bunch of corrupt leaders have become more like thugs holding onto the power. And when some one try to argue with them they will try to restrain you with as much as they can and if it wont work then there is always the BB shaheed card that they play. But wht we need is an overhaul of the system, and a movement in the new direction. Away from the Sharifs, away from the chaudries, and definitely away from the bunch of clowns that are there at present. Unfortunately at present no such contender is in the view, but lets wait and watch. When ever there is a Pharaoh Allah will always send a Moosa.

i may be wrong but sometimes i feel Jinnah's Pakistan was totally diffrent from what it has become today. As far as along with heated debates and blah blah is concerned i just found out that Pakistanis are really good at heart. This is something which is the best and worst thing. I mean being an Indian such good hearts are rare in India.

Some people really screwed up a very beautiful dream. It is my personal take nothing to be offended but sometimes i feel eminent relation with India also added fuel to fire. Dont take it personal or generalization this is what i feel based on the fact of my interaction. 1 Pakistani has 10 times more good heart than an Indian and at the same time 1 Indian has 10 times more cunning brain. Pakistanis can be best friends but alas.............................