Court ruling loosens leader's grip on power

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan was plunged into fresh political turmoil after its Supreme Court overruled a corruption amnesty that had protected leading political figures including President Asif Ali Zardari.

In a severe blow to Zardari's unpopular rule, the country's highest court also revived corruption charges against him dating back to the 1990s.

The 17-member court decided that an amnesty issued by former President Pervez Musharraf was illegal.

The decision could open the way for opponents of the Government to mount a legal challenge to Zardari's 2008 election, even though legal experts argue that a President cannot be prosecuted.

The Supreme Court is led by outspoken Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Following its decision to withdraw the immunity, which Chaudhry called "unconstitutional", at least two senior ministers and aides to Zardari will face charges.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar are listed among 8000 beneficiaries of the amnesty. Many others on the list face criminal or graft charges.

Pressure was also mounting on Zardari to resign, although he denies any wrongdoing.

The clamour for both him and the accused ministers to step down until they have cleared their names in court is likely to grow, from both the Opposition and within the ruling party.

"He is not immune forever," said Khwaja Muhammad Asif, a prominent MP in former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

"As long as he is in office, he cannot be served with a warrant, but there is also a moral position. He holds the highest office in the land. For the dignity of that office, he is morally bound, if morality means anything to him, to leave his office and face the charges."

The President's aides in Islamabad said there was no question of him resigning. Farahnaz Ispahani, Zardari's spokesperson said: "The only constitutional way to remove [the President] is impeachment by both Houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority."

The more immediate effect of the latest legal setback is a further weakening of Zardari's grip on power as criticism of his Government intensifies.

It comes as Pakistan faces an unrelenting wave of suicide bombings and its Army is locked in battle against the Taleban near the Afghan border.

With his approval ratings at an all-time low, Zardari has been subjected to fierce media attacks in recent weeks.

Tainted by political and financial scandals throughout his career, the widower of Benazir Bhutto is known by his critics and opponents as "Mr 10 Per Cent", a reference to his financial dealings.

He served multiple prison terms for murder and corruption before rising to the presidency following his wife's assassination in 2007. The couple always claimed charges against them were politically motivated.

While Zardari may be able to cling on to his job, there is likely to be pressure on him to relinquish powers. In that event the reins will shift to his Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who is seen as a weaker figure without a political base of his own.

Analysts see Gilani as being more vulnerable to pressures from the military, while Zardari is viewed as being close to Washington.

The law granting politicians an amnesty was brought in by Musharraf in 2007 as part of a power-sharing pact he struck with Bhutto to enable her to return from exile.

A weakened Zardari is likely to complicate US efforts across the border in Afghanistan. For the surge of 30,000 US troops to achieve its goals, Washington needs Pakistan's help to stop cross-border attacks.

- INDEPENDENT