The cases against Zardari were closed after former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which granted amnesty to politicians accused of certain crimes including money-laundering, embezzlement and corruption over a certain period. On Dec. 16, 2009 the Supreme Court’s three-member bench had struck down the NRO as unconstitutional.

A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was conducting a hearing into the non-implementation of its NRO verdict. Chief Justice Chaudhry told Law Secretary Masood Chishti: “We have to ensure that judgments of the apex court are being implemented in letter and spirit.”

The chief justice directed Chishti to inform the prime minister that it wanted to reopen cases against Zardari by Sept. 24. The law secretary, however, has repeatedly sought some time from the court. “Why do you want an unpleasant situation ... you must send the summary to the prime minister,” the chief justice told Chishti, who again requested the court to give him some more time as he wanted to consult Kamal Azfar, counsel for the federation. “You are the law secretary and you don’t need to consult anyone,” Chaudhry told Chishti, adding that he would have respect if he respects the court’s decisions. Earlier, during the course of proceedings, the court expressed grave concern over the nonimplementation of its verdict on the NRO.