SC gives Zardari big break

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a stay order on the operation of an ordinance which gives Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party, amnesty from prosecution in corruption cases.ardari, husband of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, spent 11 years in jail in connection with these cases. The court’s order is being seen as part of an understanding between President Pervez Musharraf and the PPP, which will not press for impeaching the former army chief or restoring sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikar Chaudhary.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the National Reconciliation Order , which was promulgated in October 2007 and which put brakes on corruption cases against political leaders.