REPORTS suggest that an appeal has been filed with the Swiss authorities for re-opening cases [against President Zardari]. It has been said that the stance that the time limit has lapsed is not correct. The letter by the law secretary on Nov 22, 2012, was without legal authority.

Likewise, the letter written by Malik Qayyum has also been declared illegal. The government has stated [in its appeal] that money laundering is a crime punishable by five years imprisonment and fine … the previous regime intentionally delayed the case. … The chief justice of Pakistan … expressed annoyance after hearing that two separate letters were written to the Swiss and remarked that the law ministry and the former attorney general kept the apex court in the dark … all those responsible will have to face the consequences.

During the proceedings of the NRO implementation case before a Supreme Court bench … it was revealed that the previous government had, without the apex court’s knowledge, sent a second letter to the Swiss asking the cases against President Zardari be shunned. The attorney general informed the bench that former law secretary Yasmin Abbasi had sent [the] second letter.... The cases were closed by the Swiss authorities on Feb 4 this year but the government came to know about it on June 14. An appeal against any decision of the Swiss can be filed within 10 days. The government promptly approached the Swiss authorities but the stipulated time had lapsed.

Hypocrisy ruins a society; that is why Islam has stressed upon the faithful to avoid double standards. Unfortunately, the prevailing duplicity has its effects on decision-makers; now the government says one thing and does another. During the previous regime, the tug-of-war between the judiciary and executive was unfortunate. It is an open secret that the then prime minister moved heaven and earth to avoid writing the letter. Ironically, a counterproductive policy was adopted and while keeping the judiciary in the dark a letter was sent to the Swiss … the judiciary is rightfully annoyed … — (June 28)

Selected and translated by Zaheer Mahmood Siddiqui.