Pakistan - corruption amnesty fallout
Arrest warrant for Interior Minister, travel ban on Defence Minister
2009-12-18 Lawyers celebrate after Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday announced its decision
(Photo: Reuters)
(Photo: Reuters)
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, while Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhta is barred from leaving the country. This is the first fallout after the Supreme Court removed an amnesty protecting politicians from corruption charges.
Mukhtar told local television he had been due to go on an official visit to China, but that his name was on an "exit list" restricting travel, and that federal authorities said he could not leave.
"It was in connection with a corruption case. But there is no corruption case against me - it is only an enquiry which is pending against me for the past 12 years. I will strongly defend myself in the court," Mukhtar said.
He is one of thousands affected by Wednesday's decision to annul as "unconstitutional" a 2007 amnesty that protected politicians and senior ministers, including President Asif Ali Zardari, from corruption charges. Neraly 250 people are reported to be on the exit control list.
The ruling has rattled the US-backed civilian government in Pakistan, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Zardari and his entire cabinet.
The National Reconciliation Ordinance was passed in October 2007 by then-president Pervez Musharraf, who was under pressure to hold elections and end eight years of military rule.
Meanwhile the United States on Thursday accused Pakistan of delayed hundreds of visas for US contractors and officials, adding to tension between the allies in the war on terrorism.
State Department deputy spokesperqon Robert Wood said the US government has raised its "serious concerns" at very senior levels with Pakistan, but added that the cause of the delays is "unclear."
He warned that the delays risked undermining US-backed efforts to fight terrorism and boost the economy in Pakistan.
"It was in connection with a corruption case. But there is no corruption case against me - it is only an enquiry which is pending against me for the past 12 years. I will strongly defend myself in the court," Mukhtar said.
He is one of thousands affected by Wednesday's decision to annul as "unconstitutional" a 2007 amnesty that protected politicians and senior ministers, including President Asif Ali Zardari, from corruption charges. Neraly 250 people are reported to be on the exit control list.
The ruling has rattled the US-backed civilian government in Pakistan, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Zardari and his entire cabinet.
The National Reconciliation Ordinance was passed in October 2007 by then-president Pervez Musharraf, who was under pressure to hold elections and end eight years of military rule.
Meanwhile the United States on Thursday accused Pakistan of delayed hundreds of visas for US contractors and officials, adding to tension between the allies in the war on terrorism.
State Department deputy spokesperqon Robert Wood said the US government has raised its "serious concerns" at very senior levels with Pakistan, but added that the cause of the delays is "unclear."
He warned that the delays risked undermining US-backed efforts to fight terrorism and boost the economy in Pakistan.
Pakistan minister court summons
Friday, 18 December 2009| Rehman Malik is one of thousands who benefited from the amnesty |
It follows a court ruling this week which ruled out an immunity granted to the minister and thousands of other Pakistani officials.
Mr Malik is one of around 250 officials whose corruption and criminal cases have been re-opened.
On Thursday Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was barred from going to China after he was stopped at the airport.
Mr Mukhtar said immigration officials prevented him from boarding the plane for an official visit.
The latest developments after the supreme court ruled on Wednesday that an amnesty protecting senior members of government was unconstitutional.
Only recently has it been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation.
Those under investigation are barred from leaving Pakistan but the others have so far not been named.
Presidential immunity
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says that the ruling has thrown Pakistan's political administration into turmoil.
| Many ministers may now have their movements curtailed |
The controversial amnesty was brought in by the previous president, Pervez Musharraf, and its removal opens the way to possible prosecution for allies of the current President, Asif Zardari.
Mr Zardari himself faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan but is protected by presidential immunity.
Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated.
Pakistan's main opposition, the Pakistan Muslim League-N of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has called on the president to resign.
Exit list
Mr Mukhtar told local television that his name was on the "exit list" restricting travel and that the federal investigation authorities had said he could not leave the country.
He told Geo TV that he had been planning to visit China for three days on an official visit in connection with the delivery of a warship.
"It was in connection with a corruption case but there is no corruption case against me - it is only an inquiry which is pending against me for the past 12 years."
He said he would "strongly defend" himself in court.
The amnesty was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf.
She returned to Pakistan from abroad after the so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance was signed into law, but was assassinated soon after.
Arrest warrant for Pakistan interior minister
| |
| Interior Minister Rehman Malik is among the 52 high-ranking officials for whom arrest warrants have been issued. |
A court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant for Interior Minister Rehman Malik amid growing political turmoil in the nuclear-armed country.
Arrest warrants have been issued against 52 individuals including federal ministers and some of the persons sitting on key government positions.
Earlier, Pakistan's anti-corruption agency stopped Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar at Islamabad International Airport on his way to China for an official visit.
Nearly 250 other top officials are also barred from leaving the country as political turmoil deepens following a Supreme Court on revoking an amnesty deal which shields President Asif Ali Zardari and many other government officials from prosecution.
The 2007 National Reconciliation Ordinance allowed Zardari and his late wife Benazir Bhutto, a former prime minister, to return from self-exile without facing corruption charges.
Revoking the amnesty could challenge the legality of Zardari's presidency and raise corruption cases against some of his close associates.
The developments have plunged the country into political turmoil amid rising militancy.
Arrest warrants have been issued against 52 individuals including federal ministers and some of the persons sitting on key government positions.
Earlier, Pakistan's anti-corruption agency stopped Defense Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar at Islamabad International Airport on his way to China for an official visit.
Nearly 250 other top officials are also barred from leaving the country as political turmoil deepens following a Supreme Court on revoking an amnesty deal which shields President Asif Ali Zardari and many other government officials from prosecution.
The 2007 National Reconciliation Ordinance allowed Zardari and his late wife Benazir Bhutto, a former prime minister, to return from self-exile without facing corruption charges.
Revoking the amnesty could challenge the legality of Zardari's presidency and raise corruption cases against some of his close associates.
The developments have plunged the country into political turmoil amid rising militancy.
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