An anticorruption court in Pakistan has reopened five corruption charges against former President Asif Ali Zardari dating back to the 1990s.
Court officials said on October 14 that Zardari has been ordered to appear before the court on October 29. The charges are linked to alleged kickbacks and money laundering during the tenure as prime minister of his slain wife, Benazir Bhutto.
Zardari in September completed a five-year term in office, during which he enjoyed presidential immunity from prosecution. He had spent several years in jail on corruption charges but was not convicted.
He was released in 2004 during the administration of then-President Pervez Musharraf, who subsequently pardoned Zardari and Bhutto. Musharraf's decree, however, was later annulled by the Supreme Court, which ordered all of the cases to be reopened.
Court officials said on October 14 that Zardari has been ordered to appear before the court on October 29. The charges are linked to alleged kickbacks and money laundering during the tenure as prime minister of his slain wife, Benazir Bhutto.
Zardari in September completed a five-year term in office, during which he enjoyed presidential immunity from prosecution. He had spent several years in jail on corruption charges but was not convicted.
He was released in 2004 during the administration of then-President Pervez Musharraf, who subsequently pardoned Zardari and Bhutto. Musharraf's decree, however, was later annulled by the Supreme Court, which ordered all of the cases to be reopened.
