Pakistan Supreme Court extends date to approach Swiss authorities

Pakistan's Supreme Court today granted a temporary reprieve to prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, as it extended till 8 August the deadline for him to approach Swiss authorities to revive graft cases against president Asif Ali Zardari.

The premier had earlier been directed by the court to comply with its directive to reopen the corruption cases against the president by today.

During hearing today, attorney general Irfan Qadir requested that the case be deferred till after Eid-ul-Fitr. However, a five-judge bench headed by justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa rejected his plea and adjourning the matter for two weeks.

Qadir, objecting to justice Khosa's presence in the bench, claimed that he was prejudiced and asked justice Khosa to recuse himself from the case but the bench rejected this request too.

Justice Khosa said he would immediately quit the bench if he had any prejudice, adding that the judges would do nothing that would harm the country or derail the democratic system. He added, the judges stood for democracy and wanted it to be strengthened.

Justice Khosa asked how charges of prejudice could be leveled against him. He further said the judges respected the president as much as anyone else.