|
Italian Constitutional Court's
Remarkable Decision and Corrupt Pakistani Politicians
The members of ruling elite in Pakistan
commit all types of fraud, bribery and corruption related crimes
and get away with them without any fear of prosecution.
Practically, no one can dare to question, try or punish them for
any such crimes.
The foremost example is of former President
general Musharraf who committed a large number of serious crimes
against the constitution, the state and the people of Pakistan,
but he is wandering around the globe as freeman with good news
from current interior minister that there is no case against him
in Pakistan and he can return to the country anytime he likes
without fear of trial or prosecution.
Another example is of Pakistan’s current
President Asif Zardari who was under investigation by various
national and international agencies for longer than a decade,
but he sworn in as President of Pakistan without any question of
trial or punishment for the wealth he accumulated from
unverifiable sources. It seems like former President General
Musharraf issued NRO as quid pro quo to protect Mr. Asif Zardari
from any investigation or trial.
Several such examples of fraud, bribery,
corruption, killings and mafia operations of MQM leaders can be
cited. Several of them became ministers, governors and mayors in
city, provincial and federal governments. They overwhelmed and
crippled the system to make it disable to move against them.
Like Pakistan, Italy is notorious for fraud,
bribery, corruption and mafia operations by the members of its
ruling elite. Current Italian Prime Minister Mr. Silvio
Berlusconi faced three fraud, bribery and corruption charges. In
one case, Mr. Berlusconi’s one British attorney was convicted
for accepting $600,000 for false testimony to shield him in two
corruption trials. In another case, Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi is accused of tax fraud during expansion of his media
empire.
Last year, Italian parliament passed a law
extending immunity from trial to Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi during his office term.
On Wednesday Italy’s Constitutional Court
repealed Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s immunity while in
office, following an appeal against the legality of the law
shielding him from all pending charges and trials.
The ruling by the constitutional court means
a number of cases against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of
fraud, bribery and corruption can now resume.
Through this landmark decision, Italy’s
Constitutional Court has upheld the fundamental principle that
no one, however rich or poor, powerful or weak, is above the law
even if parliament extends him immunity.
We hope the judges in Pakistan will carefully
read the decision taken by Italy’s Constitutional Court and
follow its example to deal with the rampant fraud, bribery and
corruption among the members of Pakistan’s ruling elite.
There are many powerful criminals in
Pakistan’s high offices that use their official positions to
protect themselves and their close associates from arrests,
trials and punishments.
Following Italy’s Constitutional Court’s
decision, Supreme Court of Pakistan should repeal all such
protections and let the law take course against all such
criminals in order to establish a system based on justice,
equality and fairness. | 
