Pakistan's Court voids amnesty protecting President

Pakistan's Supreme Court has revoked a controversial law that had granted amnesty to President Asif Ali Zardari, several sitting ministers, and thousands of politicians and bureaucrats.

The officials are accused of corruption, embezzlement, money-laundering, murder, and terrorism.

A 17-member panel of judges ruled that all corruption cases are revived against those who were given amnesty under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, or NRO, which was issued by former President Pervez Musharraf as part of a political deal. That arrangement allowed Zardari's wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to return to Pakistan after years of exile.

Presidential spokesman says the president of Pakistan enjoys immunity under the constitution and no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be initiated against the president in any court.

Farhatullah Babar, Pakistani Presidential Spokesman, said, "It was a short order and I would like only to make a short comment, a brief comment, and that is that the Pakistan People's Party and the presidency respects the court and its verdicts, We also believe that under article 248-2 of the constitution, no criminal case can be instituted or continued in any court of law against the president or a governor as long as they are in office."

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar speaks to the media after the supreme court of Pakistan announced its decision outside the court building in Islamabad December 16, 2009.REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood