The Attorney General (AG), Anwar Mansoor Khan, on Friday resigned after serving for a short stint of three months over, what he says, non-co-operation of the Law Ministry in carrying out the Supreme Court order to re-open a graft case involving President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland. The AG was appointed in December last year after the then AG, Sardar Latif Khosa, was sacked on corruption charges.
The outgoing AG said the Law Ministry was not providing him the relevant documents, which he needed to pursue the cases. He added: "I have been insisting since day one that letters must be written to the Swiss authorities." On Thursday, the AG disclosed before a seven-member bench of the apex court that Law Minister Babar Awan was the "stumbling block" towards reopening of Swiss money-laundering case.
Before leaving for his hometown, Karachi, the AG suggested to the government to implement the December-16 verdict on the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in letter and spirit, saying that the Supreme Court had the authority to call any institution of the State or agency for the execution of its orders, but the discretion was with the court to determine it.
"When the government did not defend the NRO before the 17-judge bench, then it is mandatory upon it to implement the verdict," he said while talking to reporters. Non-compliance of SC's verdict on NRO was creating a crisis, he observed. He, however, expressed his mind clearly when asked about the presidential immunity, saying "the President enjoys protection under Article 248 of the Constitution and unless he steps down or completes his tenure, he cannot be proceeded against in any criminal case."
APP adds: President Asif Ali Zardari has accepted the resignation of Attorney General for Pakistan, Anwar Mansoor Khan, said a statement of President House issued here on Friday.
AFP adds: "Yes I resigned from my post. Neither the law minister nor the law ministry were co-operating with me," Anwar Mansoor told AFP. He said he submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, adding in English: "Whether it is accepted or not, I'm not joining". Although Zardari is immune from prosecution while in office, the Supreme Court is increasing pressure on the government to reopen scores of graft cases at home and abroad, after it scrapped an amnesty shielding politicians.