Asif Ali Zardari.

Islamabad: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday ordered the reopening of corruption cases against him in Switzerland in line with a Supreme Court order, according to media reports.

Mr. Zardari has directed the Attorney-General and the Law Ministry to initiate the process for reopening the cases in Switzerland, according to sources close to the presidency and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party quoted by TV news channels. There has been no official word on the development from the presidency or the PPP.

The cases in Switzerland were closed under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by the former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, which was struck down by the apex court last year.

The sources said a formal request for reopening the cases would be filed with the Swiss government by Monday.

The sources said Mr. Zardari had decided to face the cases in Switzerland “head on” after realising that “landing on the wrong side of the judiciary would make matters worse and not go down well with the public”.

Core group meeting

The decision to go ahead with the reopening of the cases was reportedly made during a meeting of a “core group” of PPP leaders that was chaired on Friday night by Mr. Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Mr. Zardari told the meeting that, if necessary, the Supreme Court would be informed “at the right time” that the President enjoyed immunity from prosecution under Article 248. — PTI