ISLAMABAD  - Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association and senior PPP leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Saturday said the time limit of the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari is not going to expire and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had no alternative but either to write letter or get disqualified.
In an interview with a private TV channel, the senior politician said political activities in the Presidency were not illegal. He questioned whether no political activities were held at the White House or President Obama did not meet other politicians there.
To a question, Aitzaz said he never advised non-implementation of court orders, adding that Yousuf Raza Gilani’s acceptance of the sentence was a clear sign of complying with the court orders though the sentencing was wrong.
He said the current prime minister would also be disqualified if he did not write to Swiss authorities for the re-opening of the cases against President Zardari.
Aitzaz reiterated that the PPP would not write letter to the Swiss officials against President Zardari, adding that Zardari could not be tried in Swiss courts as long as he was the president.
Talking to APP, Aitzaz said the PPP-led government had strengthened the Parliament and democracy in the country by pursuing the vision of President Asif Zardari during last four years. “The Parliament has gained strength and democracy has firmed its roots in the country and its institutions,” he added.
He said the PPP leadership had introduced the policy of reconciliation to strengthen democracy by uniting all the political forces for playing a constructive role to put the country on the track of progress and prosperity.
Aitzaz said Asif Zardari was the first president in the country’s history, who had voluntarily transferred his powers to the Parliament. He said the credit of winning elections in Gilgit-Biltistan and Azad Kashmir went to the President, who had always taken his political allies on board on all the national issues.
The Senator said that the consensus NFC Award and the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner were made possible due to the reconciliation policy.
Relying to a question, Aitzaz said the country’s economic condition was good due to the steps taken by the present government and the law and order situation had improved as compared to that during the previous government.
He said the government had held its writ in Swat. He also mentioned the apology President Zardari had tendered to the people of Balochistan for the atrocities they had faced during the successive past regimes.
Aitzaz said it was the PPP government that had announced Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package for the social uplift of the people of province and also to remove their sense of deprivation by providing job opportunities to them.