PPP sticks to 'immunity' stance on money- laundering case against Zardari

The Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) has reaffirmed that the government cannot write a letter to Swiss authorities for seeking the re-opening of the money laundering case against President Asif Ali Zardari due to the immunity enjoyed by him in his presidential tenure.

"This meeting was not specifically convened to discuss legal issues but the topic came up during the meeting. We have no doubt in our mind that the president enjoys immunity, be it in Swiss cases or the Memo case in our court," a PPP leader said, requesting anonymity.

The decision comes after the Pakistan Supreme Court warned the government to comply with the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict, which includes an order to write to the Swiss authorities to re-open cases against Zardari.

The court had also given a one- week deadline to the Pakistan government to comply with its orders and had warned of action against the defaulters.

Sources told the Express Tribune that PPP ministers would accompany leaders, who are facing the contempt of court charges, on the day of the hearing of the cases.

The PPP core committee also decided that it would kick-start its Senate election campaign by holding public rallies at the district and divisional level this month.

Pakistan's presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that the core committee had called for immediate polls on all vacant seats of the National and Provincial assemblies across the country.

He added that the party would also begin a consultative process with coalition partners on the issue of the formation of new provinces. (ANI)