Staff Report
Bringing rental power house back in limelight, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the rental power projects (RPPs) were not properly understood, acknowledging he could not accurately clarify his statements regarding the energy crisis in the country.

“The statement given in December 2009 regarding the end to load shedding, still hounds me,” he said talking to columnists and editors at Governor House.

Replying a question regarding the Supreme Court (SC) order on Swiss letter, the premier Raja said the government believes in the supremacy of the Constitution and law.

However, as the first formal denial to comply with the apex court, which issued orders that Swiss authorities be moved to open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, Ashraf said it is the Constitution that hinders writing of the Swiss letter, asserting, “We will not let our first class president to capitulate to a third class magistrate, as the Constitution stands against it.”

Rounding off his reply over the issue, Raja Pervez asserted the government stance over the Swiss letter will be made public on July 12.

Reiterating his reconciliatory overtures towards Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Ashraf said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is willing to sit with the N-League over the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Prime Minister Raja said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wrote the history with blood and this blood will once again be given if needed in future.

The apex court ordered former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to write letter to Swiss official to revive the corruption cases; however, the former premier declined to do so resulting in a contempt charge leveled against him.

Later on, the court convicted him on contempt charge on April 26. However, the National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza decided not to move Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for his disqualification. Several identical petitions were filed against the NA speaker’s ruling. Hearing the petitions against the NA Speaker ruling, the court disqualified him on June 19. SAMAA