( CNN ) -- Pakistan 's Supreme Court declared on Wednesday that an amnesty that had protected politicians , including President Asif Ali Zardari , from corruption and criminal charges , was unconstitutional . The 17-judge court invalidated the National Reconciliation Order , saying in its ruling that the amnesty `` seems to be against the national interest '' and `` violates various provisions of the Constitution . '' The order , passed in October 2007 under then-President Pervez Musharraf , protected thousands of bureaucrats and politicians , including Zardari and his wife , late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto , from corruption and criminal charges . It expired last month . The supreme court said its ruling revived all cases that had been suspended or withdrawn under the amnesty . There was no immediate response from Zardari 's government to Wednesday 's ruling . However , as president , Zardari still has immunity from prosecution . Although he was never convicted , Zardari spent 11 years in jail on corruption allegations that he called politically motivated . Bhutto had faced corruption charges in at least five cases , but was not convicted . Before her return to Pakistan to take part in the elections in 2007 , she had been in self-imposed exile for eight years after being convicted on money-laundering charges . When Bhutto was prime minister , frequent accusations of corruption against her husband , Zadari , of stealing from government coffers and accepting kickbacks , prompted many Pakistanis to derisively label him `` Mr. 10 Percent . '' He became the Pakistan People 's Party head after Bhutto was assassinated during a campaign rally in December 2007 , and he became president eight months later . The PPP had tried in October to extend the amnesty ahead of its deadline , but faced strong protest from opposition parties in parliament . A day ahead of the amnesty 's expiration , Zardari told Pakistan 's Express News that he still had immunity as president and was n't concerned about the reopening of cases against him . The president 's spokesman echoed that sentiment in November . `` The president is absolutely not concerned , '' presidential spokesman Farhatullah Baber told CNN . `` It 's whatever the courts decide . We will cross that bridge when it comes , '' Baber said .
Pakistan 's Supreme Court declares amnesty protecting politicians is unconstitutional . Comment: Amnesty , passed in 2007 under then-President Pervez Musharraf , expired last month . As president , Zardari still has immunity from prosecution .