This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7278841.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Court drops cases against Zardari | Court drops cases against Zardari |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Pakistani court has dropped five corruption cases against Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of assassinated ex-PM Benazir Bhutto, his lawyer says. | A Pakistani court has dropped five corruption cases against Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of assassinated ex-PM Benazir Bhutto, his lawyer says. |
| The ruling also reportedly unfreezes Mr Zardari's financial assets. | The ruling also reportedly unfreezes Mr Zardari's financial assets. |
| The court move follows a deal agreed with President Pervez Musharraf in October, that gave the Bhuttos immunity from prosecution in the cases. | The court move follows a deal agreed with President Pervez Musharraf in October, that gave the Bhuttos immunity from prosecution in the cases. |
| Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won the most votes in recent polls and is set to form a government. | Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won the most votes in recent polls and is set to form a government. |
| Although he is an influential figure in the PPP, Mr Zardari has ruled himself out as a candidate for prime minister in the new coalition administration. | Although he is an influential figure in the PPP, Mr Zardari has ruled himself out as a candidate for prime minister in the new coalition administration. |
| Allah has differentiated truth from lies and justice has been done Farooq NaikAsif Ali Zardari's lawyer Cases against the Bhuttos | Allah has differentiated truth from lies and justice has been done Farooq NaikAsif Ali Zardari's lawyer Cases against the Bhuttos |
| The election delivered a huge blow to the President Musharraf's main allies in parliament, who are now expected to form the opposition. | The election delivered a huge blow to the President Musharraf's main allies in parliament, who are now expected to form the opposition. |
| Ms Bhutto ended several years of voluntary exile and returned to Pakistan late last year, after the agreement to exempt her and her husband from further prosecution in the corruption cases. | Ms Bhutto ended several years of voluntary exile and returned to Pakistan late last year, after the agreement to exempt her and her husband from further prosecution in the corruption cases. |
| She was killed in a gun and bomb attack in late December, after addressing a rally in the city of Rawalpindi. | She was killed in a gun and bomb attack in late December, after addressing a rally in the city of Rawalpindi. |
| 'Draconian laws' | 'Draconian laws' |
| The corruption cases against Mr Zardari stem from Ms Bhutto's two terms as prime minister. | The corruption cases against Mr Zardari stem from Ms Bhutto's two terms as prime minister. |
| He spent eight years in prison over the charges and was freed on bail in late 2004. | He spent eight years in prison over the charges and was freed on bail in late 2004. |
| "Allah has differentiated truth from lies and justice has been done," Mr Zardari's lawyer, Farooq Naik, said after Wednesday's court ruling in the city of Rawalpindi. | "Allah has differentiated truth from lies and justice has been done," Mr Zardari's lawyer, Farooq Naik, said after Wednesday's court ruling in the city of Rawalpindi. |
| "Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari were the victims of Draconian laws, but today all cases have finished like the dark, old night," he said. | "Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari were the victims of Draconian laws, but today all cases have finished like the dark, old night," he said. |
| Two cases against Mr Zardari remain outstanding in another court and are expected to be heard on 12 March. | Two cases against Mr Zardari remain outstanding in another court and are expected to be heard on 12 March. |
| Mr Naik told the BBC he expected those cases to be dismissed as well. | Mr Naik told the BBC he expected those cases to be dismissed as well. |
| He said a high court in the southern province of Sindh had asked the government to dismiss all cases against his client, in Pakistan and abroad, by 21 March. | He said a high court in the southern province of Sindh had asked the government to dismiss all cases against his client, in Pakistan and abroad, by 21 March. |
| Acting upon this, government lawyers last week withdrew a case filed against Mr Zardari in Switzerland. | Acting upon this, government lawyers last week withdrew a case filed against Mr Zardari in Switzerland. |