Swiss drop charges against Bhutto’s widower
The justice authorities have dropped charges of money laundering against Asif Ali Zardari, a favourite to become Pakistan's next president.
The move by the Geneva prosecutor-general, Daniel Zappelli, ends an 11-year investigation in Switzerland over suspected corruption by Zardari and his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated last December.
Zappelli said the Geneva inquiry had produced too little for him to continue and there were no indications to prove initial corruption charges.
He said in a statement on Monday that he had no choice but to close the case. His Pakistani counterpart had abandoned his inquiry against Zardari into suspected corruption.
Zappelli added the charges against Bhutto had already been dropped eight months ago.
The Swiss investigation was based on a request for legal assistance by the Pakistani authorities. But they now say the case was politically motivated.
The SFr3.9 million ($3.6 million) seized in Switzerland will go to the Geneva government, according to a statement by Zappelli.
A total of $20 million placed by the Bhutto family in Swiss bank accounts was frozen in 1997. The Pakistani government accused Bhutto, Zardari and several other family members of placing bribe money in Switzerland.
Candidate
Monday’s announcement by the Geneva authorities could further boost the chances of Zardari in the September 6 presidential elections by parliament.
In another development, Pakistan’s ruling coalition has collapsed just a week after President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation.
Nawaz Sharif pulled his party out of the five-month-old ruling coalition, deepening a political crisis that has diverted government attention from security and economic problems.
He said the party of assassinated former prime minister Bhutto, which leads the coalition, had repeatedly broken promises on resolving a judicial dispute and on how should be the next president.
Observers say the breakdown clears the way for the Pakistan People’s Party and Zardari to tighten their hold on the government.
A major opposition party has already backed Zardari’s presidential bid. Together with smaller parties and independents it could plug the gap in the government’s parliamentary majority.
For his part, Sharif vowed to play a constructive role while in opposition.
The coalition, formed after Musharraf’s allies lost a February general election, had looked increasingly precarious since the former military leader resigned in the face of the coalition’s threat to impeach him.
As politicians bicker, militant violence has surged in Pakistan, which allies such as the United States consider to be on the front line in the war on terrorism.
swissinfo with agencies
1994 – SGS and Cotecna sign contracts with Pakistan.
1997 – Pakistan asks Switzerland for legal assistance.
1998 – Bhutto and her husband charged in Pakistan and Switzerland.
1999 – The couple are sentenced to five years prison by a Lahore tribunal.
2001 – The Pakistan Supreme Court rejects the judgement.
2004 – The couple is charged with advanced money laundering.
2007 – Benazir Bhutto benefits from a corruption amnesty in Pakistan. Charges against her in Switzerland are dropped following news of her death in December.
2008 – Geneva prosecutor closes case against Bhutto’s widower, Asif Ali Zardari.
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