President grants pardon to Rehman Malik 

President Asif Ali Zardari Monday night granted pardon to Interior Minister Rehman Malik against conviction and sentence awarded to him by Accountability Court  Rawalpindi in January 2004 in absentia under 31-A of NAB Ordinance and against which his appeal was rejected by the LHC on Monday. Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the pardon was granted under Article 45 of the Constitution on the advice of the Prime Minister that was tendered late Monday night.

Article 45 of the constitution states, “The President shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or authority”.

He said that Rehman Malik was sentenced to three years imprisonment in each of two references in absentia under section 31-A of NAB Ordinance in January 2004 by Accountability Court Rawalpindi. Rehman Malik had filed appeals against the said conviction awarded in absentia in the LHC which however could not succeed.

Mr. Rehman Malik has all along maintained that he has been victimized due to political reasons in his absence from the country under a law specially crafted by Pervez Musharraf for the purpose of victimizing political opponents.