From M Zulqernain Lahore, Feb 13 (PTI) Hours after Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani was charged with contempt, Pakistan's main opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif today demanded that the government act on the Supreme Court's order to ask Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Addressing a press conference, Sharif questioned why the Premier -- who was indicted for contempt for defying the apex court order to reopen corruption cases against Zardari -- was not writing to Swiss authorities in this regard. He claimed the money that was allegedly laundered by Zardari belonged to the public and should be brought back from Swiss banks. Referring to the government's decision not to act on the court's orders due to the immunity provided to the President by the Constitution, he said, "What is immunity? It means nothing to the common man, who wants his hard earned money to be brought back to the country." Sharif added: "The money will only be brought back if this letter is written. So why is the government unwilling to write this letter and bring the money to Pakistan?" The government had damaged Pakistan's image by disobeying the Supreme Court's orders." The PPP partners in the ruling coalition were acting irresponsibly by backing its decision not to write to the Swiss authorities to revive the graft cases, he said. The support given to the PPP by these parties is unconstitutional and illegal, he claimed. Sharif contended that the issue of presidential immunity should be settled by the Supreme Court.
