Call on Zardari to relinquish more powers

Islamabad: A powerful opposition leader has called upon President Asif Ali Zardari to relinquish wide-ranging powers immediately.

Sunday's statement by Shahbaz Sharif comes a day after the expiration of an amnesty protecting Zardari and several allies from graft prosecution. Zardari enjoys general immunity from prosecution as president but the Supreme Court could challenge that.

Zardari transferred command of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal to the prime minister on Friday and said he would surrender more powers by the end of the year.

Sharif, brother of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, says Zardari has made similar promises before and must act now.

Zardari's political woes have distracted the administration as the U.S. presses Pakistan to focus on fighting the Taliban.