PKR looking at other ways to free Anwar, says Azmin

KUALA LUMPUR — PKR will find other ways to seek opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s release from prison following news that an appeal for a royal pardon by his family has been rejected, said party deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“The party will discuss other avenues with the PKR de facto leader’s family members and his lawyers,” Mr Azmin told reporters today (March 30) after the opening of the Selangor legislative assembly sitting in Shah Alam. Mr Azmin is also the state’s chief executive.

Anwar was jailed on February 10 after the Federal Court upheld his sodomy conviction and a five-year jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Mr Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

The Pardons Board on March 16 reportedly disposed of the petition for a royal pardon. Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh submitted an affidavit to the court and to Anwar’s lawyers on the board’s decision.

Mr Amarjeet, who is also head of the civil division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, told reporters then that an affidavit affirmed by the director-general of the legal division of the Prime Minister’s Department had been sent to the applicants.

The affidavit states that Anwar’s custodial sentence should be maintained.

With this, Anwar’s application to seek a pardon will likely be rejected, meaning he will have to serve his five-year jail sentence for sodomy.

This also means that the Permatang Pauh MP’s seat, which he holds, will soon be declared vacant.

The petition was filed by Anwar’s second daughter, Ms Nurul Nuha, on February 24.

Anwar’s judicial review to challenge the director-general of Prisons and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for their failure to allow him to attend Parliament will be heard this Wednesday. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER