Immunity for President of Pakistan: Supreme Court requested to take up pending plea

Watan Party (WP)has filed an application requesting Supreme Court to take up early an already pending petition, defending constitutional immunity enjoyed by President of Pakistan. In the petition, the Watan Party, had also challenged re-opening of Swiss cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and requested the apex court to withdraw its orders issued to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for reopening of the said cases.
Petitioner counsel Barrister Zafarullah had submitted that the SC had erred in its short-order on December 16, last by asking federal government to take immediate steps for revival of money laundering cases against President Zardari pending with courts in Switzerland.
He said Asif Zardari being a President of Pakistan enjoys absolute immunity from prosecution under article 248 of the constitution. Barrister Zafarullah pleaded that head of a state could not be tried in another country under principle of International Immunities of a head of state. He, therefore, prayed to the court to take up petition with NRO cases on May 13, so that the matter of immunity may be settled forever.