Sep 27, 2010, 12.30am IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Money-laundering-cases-Zardari-under-pressure/articleshow/6632842.cms

ISLAMABAD: The developments taking place in Islamabad are heading for a change at a remarkable speed as the government and judiciary have adopted opposite positions regarding the Swiss money-laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The situation has become so critical that the apex court's Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had to cancel his planned trip to the United States and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had to abandon his weeklong visit to Paris, London and Brussels later this month. The government's version that the PM opted out from his planned visit to Europe due to the floods situation in the country could not make much impact.

The Supreme Court has stuck to its position that the PM must send the letter to the Swiss authorities, asking to reopen the corruption cases against Zardari. Justice Chaudhry warned Gilani: "As a shrewd politician he should know the consequences of defying court orders."

On the other hand, PM Gilani has made his position clear by endorsing two recommendations of the law ministry given in its summary that the PPP government would not write any letter to the Swiss authorities in line with the SC orders. Reportedly, Gilani has authorized the Law Secretary in writing to bring his decision into the notice of the SC bench led by CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry on Monday.

On Friday, Gilani told the upper house that the parliament had given powers to institutions, including immunity to the president, through the Constitution and only it could withdraw these.

"We fully respect courts and will implement their verdicts, but there is a need that all institutions work within their constitutional limits," he said, adding that the president was supreme commander of the armed forces and since immunity to him had been given by parliament under Article 248 of the Constitution, only it could revoke the immunity.

The government's decision not to implement the court's verdict will have perilous implications in days to come, legal experts believe.

Legal expert, Fakhruddin G Ibrahim says the government is following a path that will take it to self-destruction. "Violating the court's order mean destroying the society as well as the very structure of the State," he said.

Former chief justice of the SC Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui says that the prime minister must realize that he would lose his premiership as well as the government if he does not implement the Supreme Court's decision.

Reeling under pressure, president Zardari has held a series of meetings with his party stalwarts in the past couple of days, brain-storming how to diffuse the ongoing crisis. The parliamentary party of the Pakistan Peoples Party will meet again on Monday (September 27) with President Zardari in the chair. Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said all the MNAs and Senators of the party have been requested to attend the meeting. At a recent meeting of the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC), Mr Zardari reassured his party leaders that rumours of change have no substance. But he also advised them to remain prepared "for the worst".

Amid speculations of the impending change, the political players have also started reviewing their positions.

Nawaz Sharif, chief of Pakistan's leading opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has put his weight behind the apex court in the ongoing tussle between the judiciary and the PPP-led federal government.

Sharif warned that a change in government was not far off if rulers did not mend their ways.

"I am with the Supreme Court, with the rule of law and not ready to support any illegal step or corruption. The Supreme Court has been restored after a long struggle by the nation not for defying its verdicts on each and every step," he said at a press conference in Lahore.

Replying to a question whether president Zardari should be exempted from prosecution, Sharif said only the Supreme Court could decide about it.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which happens to be a coalition partner in the government, has already made its position clear. The present phase of speculations has been triggered by the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain who appealed to the "patriotic generals" for a martial law-like action to get rid of corrupt politicians and abolish feudalism.

However, the other coalition partners, the Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat-Ulema-Islam (JUI) continue to support the PPP.