Islamabad writes letter to Swiss Attorney General in Zardari Graft Case

The government of Pakistan has sent to the Swiss attorney-general a letter withdrawing a 2008 letter issued by the then Pakistani attorney-general that led to the closure of graft cases in Switzerland against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari

Based on a government-prepared draft approved by the Supreme Court on October 10, the letter was sent through the Foreign Office on Monday, Pakistan Television said on Wednesday.

The bench had directed that proof of actual receipt of the communication by the Swiss attorney-general should be produced before the court on November 14.

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The approval of the draft marked the end of a nearly three-year standoff between the government and the apex court over the implementation of a 2009 verdict quashing an amnesty granted by military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007 for politicians facing corruption cases.

Read more: Gulf News

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Swiss ski resorts hit by drought

[ BBC Europe ] 3 Dec

The driest autumn in the history of Switzerland has delayed the opening up of country's ski season this year as there is shortage of snow across the Alps.

No-snow Swiss mountains this time of the year (Photo AP)

BBC correspondents say the continuing drought is bad news for the country's tourism industry which is already suffering from the strong Swiss franc.

However to some delight of the skiers, big resorts such as Davos or St Moritz have been able to open a few runs with the help of snow cannons. 

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