Peace and Justice Post

Pakistan’s Supreme Court began deliberations on Monday on the legality of an amnesty that has protected President Asif Ali Zardari and key allies from graft charges.

The case, which follows the expiry of the amnesty, could lead to legal challenges to the Western-backed leader’s rule.

The 17-member bench in Islamabad heard the first of a raft of petitions claiming that the amnesty list of more than 8,000 people was illegal.

Civil rights activists argue that it was unjust to help so many politicians escape prosecution for alleged wrongdoing.

Mr Zardari, who has denied a slew of corruption claims against him, enjoys general immunity from prosecution as president, but the Supreme Court could choose to challenge his eligibility for the post if the amnesty is declared illegal.

Legal and political analysts are divided on whether this is likely and most expect the process to take several months to run its course.

A ruling against Mr Zadari – who opinion polls show to be very unpopular – risks political turmoil just as the Obama administration and other Western states want Pakistan to escalate military operations against guerillas near the Afghan border.

Dr Mubashir Hasan, a prominent politician and one of the petitioners against the National Reconciliation Ordinance, as the amnesty was formally known, said that all those involved in corruption cases should be fairly tried and jailed if convicted regardless of political affiliation.

“It is time to begin an operation to clean up Pakistan – the ruling class should be swept away so that a new era can begin,” Dr Hasan declared.

The hearing in Islamabad was launched as a suicide bomber struck outside a court building in Peshawar, killing six people and wounding 49.