Islamabad:
In Pakistan, a growing confrontation between the Supreme Court and the government over sanction to prosecute President Zardari and other top leaders for corruption could lead to a serious political crisis and even the fall of the government.
The controversy centres around a law called the National Reconciliation Ordinance or the NRO passed by Musharraf which granted amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats accused of corruption.
However, it was declared unconstitutional by Pakistan's Supreme Court in December, 2009.
But many who had received amnesty under the NRO are still in office including President Zardari and the Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
After scrapping the NRO, the Supreme Court had ordered the government to reopen cases against the president in a Swiss court, where he is alleged to have misappropriated money.
But the government has defied that order saying no action can be taken against an incumbent president under the Constitution.
Analysts say a ruling against Zardari could bring down the government.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani held a long meeting with the Army Chief today and declared that his government wasn't going anywhere.
The court has fixed October 13 as the next date of hearing.
The controversy centres around a law called the National Reconciliation Ordinance or the NRO passed by Musharraf which granted amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats accused of corruption.
However, it was declared unconstitutional by Pakistan's Supreme Court in December, 2009.
But many who had received amnesty under the NRO are still in office including President Zardari and the Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
After scrapping the NRO, the Supreme Court had ordered the government to reopen cases against the president in a Swiss court, where he is alleged to have misappropriated money.
But the government has defied that order saying no action can be taken against an incumbent president under the Constitution.
Analysts say a ruling against Zardari could bring down the government.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani held a long meeting with the Army Chief today and declared that his government wasn't going anywhere.
The court has fixed October 13 as the next date of hearing.
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