Zardari again refuses to face Swiss inquiry
By Mubasher Bukhari
LAHORE: The government has again offered Asif Ali Zardari, the jailed spouse of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, an opportunity to go to Switzerland to appear at an inquiry into the SGS case against him on June 30, sources close to Mr Zardari told Daily Times on Tuesday.
Sources said that the government contacted Mr Zardari, who has been admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment, a couple of days ago and asked if he wanted to appear before the Swiss magistrate or not. “Mr Zardari refused on medical grounds,” sources said.
Sources said that Ms Bhutto would also skip the inquiry because of her trip to the United States and engagements in the United Kingdom.
“She will leave for the US today to deliver lectures at different American universities. She will stop over in London on her return and will hold at least 14 meetings with party leaders arriving there in the first week of June,” sources said.
They said that neither Ms Bhutto nor Mr Zardari would appear before the magistrate. Their lawyer will represent them. Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for Ms Bhutto, said that both Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari had not taken any decision yet. But he said it was not mandatory for either of them to appear before the investigating magistrate.
He said the government had not only dropped charges against the Swiss company, but also acquired its services again, which was proof that the Pakistan People’s Party government’s decision to hire the company for pre-shipment inspection was correct.
He demanded the government show a copy of the letter which it claimed was written to it by the Swiss company for a settlement. |
