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The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday told the Supreme Court of Pakistan that Swiss cases against PPP co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari cannot be reopened as they were time-barred and their statutory limitation period has elapsed, DawnNewsTV reported.
On July 4, the SC had sought details of assets of former presidents Zardari and Pervez Musharraf while hearing a case regarding the recovery of losses incurred because of the infamous National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
Read: The history of the Swiss case
The NAB today submitted a two-page report to the apex court, detailing its findings on the NRO as well as the cases against Zardari.
The bureau, in its report, stated that "the federal government's failure to file a timely appeal meant that the cases against Asif Zardari are now time-barred."
"Swiss officials have excused themselves from reopening the cases as they are now out of date," NAB said.
The corruption watchdog, in its report, also included a list of pending cases against Zardari in Pakistan courts.
"There are five pending cases against Asif Zardari in high courts, including an assets-related case that has been in the Lahore High Court since 2015," NAB informed the court.
Moreover, four other cases — the SGS, Cotecna, Ursus tractors and ARY gold import — have been pending in the Islamabad High Court for the last few years, the NAB added.
The NAB further said that it had found no evidence of the NRO causing any financial loss to the national exchequer.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (57) Closed
Aug 08, 2018 07:08pm
Option should be there to re-open the case
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Aug 08, 2018 07:11pm
It has legal issues, but Pakistan can get hold of all who were involved at that time NOT going to Swiss Courts, all must be investigated and held responsible for the money Pakistan lost. After recovery, they must go to jail.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:14pm
different rules for 2 corrupt person in Pakistan
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Aug 08, 2018 07:23pm
The person who dragged the cases leading them to be time barred should be grilled first. He is his lawyer.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:24pm
Catch me if you can.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:25pm
Looks like he gets lucky somehow. But if Pakistan's institutions are determined, I am sure they can more thief's who have looted the country.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:25pm
NAB must be disbanded if this is its stance on the crimes committed by the known crooks of Pakistan. Meanwhile the assets of all its employees from top to bottom must also be kept under strict scrutiny.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:26pm
Yes, western countries have time limits on inquiries. Well, Zardari like Nawaz Sharif has many countless properties.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:31pm
Sharifs bought avenfield flats in 1990s from like 25 years now, and still justice was done. If there is a legit money laundering case then where does this "time-barred and their statutory limitation period has elapsed" argument comes from? Usman Dar once mentioned "NAB is totally biased right now", which turns out to be true to me. NAB does infact need reforms, which imran khan will do insAllah which I am totally optimistic about.
BTW, anyone reading this comment, "Happy Independence in adv :)".
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Aug 08, 2018 07:35pm
Even one case can put him in jail for a long long time and there more than one case in the different courts.
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Aug 08, 2018 07:39pm
If Asif Zardari's Swiss corruption cases have become time barred, then who was responsible? It was PPP's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who delayed contacting the Swiss government and courts. He defied our court orders. Therefore, he must be held accountable for his action, which helped Asif Zardari evade accountability.
Swiss laws have changed since, our new government must formally ask for the details of Asif Zardari and other Pakistanis who have stashed corruption money in Swiss banks, just as Indian government did and is getting full cooperation from the Swiss government. The people of Pakistan demand accountability of corrupt politicians.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:03pm
after reading the law
The prescriptive period for the right to bring an action against a defendant acting in bad
faith is always 30 years.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:05pm
These are criminal cases and I fail to understand how can they be time-barred.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:08pm
I love this guy.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:11pm
Well, there is always an opportunity to start new ones!?
I'm sure the gentleman has no shortage of corruption allegations that he could be investigated for.!!!
Use your imagination and come up with novel ways to handle the bull by the horn.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:14pm
Never say never.
The US government finally nabbed (no pun intended) the infamous gangster and mob boss, Al Capone for Tax Evasion, when they couldn't make a case against him for racketeering, bootlegging, smuggling, murders, extortion and whole host of other criminal wrong doing.
So anything is possible, if people in the LEA use the techniiques to find other laws he may have broken. Money laundering, fake bank accounts, swindling etc do come to mind.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:16pm
All those responsible for making these cases time barred in Swiss courts should be taken to task.
What next ?
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Aug 08, 2018 08:16pm
For minor crimes yes time bar is relevant but not for major crime for example treason and murder someone can be prosecuted 20 years later.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:17pm
Zardari is right he is untouchable. Western countries make and break laws as they please. They only care about their own interest not like us where we do every unthinkable to please West. It also shows the corruption at its best in Pakistan. Punished the people who work for Pakistan and let criminals rule.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:30pm
For sake of poor CJ should speed up the cases against Zardari. Every body knows about his corruption including huge amounts of assets offshore. CJ should also open an investigation against then PM of PPP for intentionally delaying the application to ensure that the case gets time barred.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:32pm
A fresh indictment can resolve the issue...
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Aug 08, 2018 08:38pm
It is so amazing how this corrupt Zardari gets away with all the criminal activities he has committed.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:40pm
Thank you Yousuf Raza Geilani, your boss appreciates you made a great sacrifice by not sending letters to Swiss authorities for starting recover of looted wealth, but we the nation view your kind with utter contempt.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:42pm
All criminal cases including money laundering with criminal propensity are not time barred. NAB is mistaken.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:44pm
Only Zardari case could have opened not of Zardari and Musharraf both.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:50pm
Funny system of accountability.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:52pm
We should take Swiss government to international court to reopen these cases. They dont want to reopen because they are enjoying having all the looted money of the world leaders in their country.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:57pm
What a joke.
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Aug 08, 2018 08:59pm
Anything is possible give them the evidence!
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Aug 08, 2018 09:07pm
It is part of the deal with establishment. He will not go to jail and he will do very gentle opposition.
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Aug 08, 2018 09:16pm
Only in Pakistan criminal cases are time barred. Joke
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Aug 08, 2018 09:24pm
Some crooks go scot -free, at least in this world.
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Aug 08, 2018 09:25pm
Government of Pakistan should request Swiss authorities to open these cases again. what is the big deal in it?
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Aug 08, 2018 09:33pm
Who allowed these cases to become time-barred?
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Aug 08, 2018 09:34pm
This is ridiculous that Swiss cases against Zardari cannot be opened - why and what will happen to 200 Million US dollars that deposited in Swiss accounts by Asif Zardari? The money was made through corrupt practices and belongs to Pakistan and every effort both legally and diplomatically should be made to recover the looted money - don't let corrupt mafia get away with tax payers money!
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Aug 08, 2018 09:51pm
"the federal government's failure to file a timely appeal meant that the cases against Asif Zardari are now time-barred." Total incompetence of the government's lawyers. They needed to hire a Swiss law firm if the didn't know Swiss law.
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Aug 08, 2018 09:56pm
So is there a time limit for a thief. Shame on NAB.
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Aug 08, 2018 10:38pm
In case SWISS case can't be opened in Switzerland, then all the equivalent amount recovered from all their properties in Pakistan from all NRO parties. If any property transferred to their family members should also be recovered, as stolen property if sold is still considered stolen, especially the family earned income is zero of his/her own effort, NOT the interest from stolen property.
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Aug 08, 2018 10:53pm
It's very unfortunate that some serious crimes can have time limitations to resolve. Is it a (convenient) flaw in the system? Anyone who has/had pending cases for corruption, and other wrongdoings, should be dealt justly in favor of the country, and the victims, not the offender.
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Aug 08, 2018 10:54pm
are you kidding me....what the actual...
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Aug 08, 2018 11:02pm
Zardari ....way smarter than Nawaz.
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Aug 08, 2018 11:21pm
Thank you NAB instead helping the nation you are protecting Zardari . Why I am not surprised !
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Aug 08, 2018 11:22pm
The Swiss case was the most pivotal case that could have apprehended Zardari long ago but corruption became crucial not to pursue this case diligently.
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Aug 08, 2018 11:29pm
Why can’t fresh cases be initiated to recover the looted national wealth of Pakistan ?
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Aug 08, 2018 11:41pm
Take them to the ICJ. For fraud and corruption and a country (Switzerland) which has a history of keeping dirty money from atrocities, corruption and crime, it should be an easy win for Pakistan to not let them use obscure laws to keep these funds from the deserving people whose money has been stolen.
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Aug 08, 2018 11:59pm
We all know how delayed tactics were implied, to rob nation wealth. SC can still take action we also know that.
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Aug 09, 2018 12:15am
Nevertheless, Mister Zardari is living on borrowed time.
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Aug 09, 2018 01:34am
If NAB has determined that the NRO did not cause any loss to the public exchequer, then this case should be closed without wasting further time and resources on it.
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Aug 09, 2018 02:18am
Swiss authorities are partners in crime of worldwide corruption.
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Aug 09, 2018 03:34am
He never leaves behind any evidence!
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Aug 09, 2018 04:03am
Do what MBS did in KSA / invite all suspected launderers and hold them in luxury hotel UNTIL they make acceptable offers to return.
Also - go against their assets in UK US France etc if Switzerland remain difficult.
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Aug 09, 2018 04:22am
Musharraf for his personal gains issued NRO, gave a free pass to all corrupts. Like so many others Zardari has taken advantage. There is n't anything you can do about it.
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Aug 09, 2018 06:42am
So will PPP support PTI in the federal coalition?
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Aug 09, 2018 07:13am
Why not, a crook is always a crook!
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Aug 09, 2018 08:02am
That does not mean he didn't steal.
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Aug 09, 2018 08:32am
Share your loot and get away free!!
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Aug 09, 2018 09:57am
Zardari has been operating like this in major criminal activities that include fake encounters and murders. Is there no law applicable to this criminal?
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