• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Pakistan Interior Minister summoned by another court

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Dec 22, IRNA -- Another anti-corruption court in Pakistan Monday summoned Interior Minister Rehman Malik over corruption charges after Supreme Court cancelled a controversial amnesty law and revived corruption charges, his lawyer said.

Malik has been accused of purchasing a vehicle illegally and concealing jewelry when he was the head of the Federal Investigation Agency in mid 90s.

The Accountability Court in Rawalpindi has ordered Mr. Malik to appear in the court on January 2nd.

The summons comes three days after another court in Karachi issued a similar order addressed to the Interior Minister.

The minister's defense lawyer Amjad Iqbal told the reporters in the premises of the court that the court has summoned his client to appear on January 2.

He said that Malik will appear in the court, adding that the minister is not afraid of appearing in the courts.

The Supreme Court last week declared as unconstitutional the amnesty law – known as the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) – which was passed in October 2007 by former President Pervez Musharraf.

Cases of corruption, terrorism, murders and other charges were revived against President Asif Ali Zardari and at least four sitting cabinet ministers of Malik.

The lawyer said that his client is busy in the war on terror and that he is doing his work with courage and bravery. “We are sure that we will get justice from the courts," the lawyer said.

President Zardari and his ministers are under mounting pressure by the opposition parties to resign after the Supreme Court’s verdict. The Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar has said that the president will not resign and that he has immunity under the constitution.

Officials say that 247 persons have been barred from traveling abroad after the Court’s verdict and the Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was not allowed to proceed to China on an official visit last week.

The NRO had withdrawn charges against both President Zardari and his spouse, slain leader Benazir Bhutto -- who was killed in December 2007.

**2329

End News / IRNA / News Code 856036