Pakistan PM Gilani to quit if SC rules against him

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is believed to have made up his mind to step down if the Supreme Court comes up with an "unfavourable decision" in the contempt case against him.

Gilani is under immense pressure to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, and his failure to do so till now has led to contempt proceedings against him in the country’s top court.

The PM reportedly made the decision after consulting the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party and its allies in the ruling coalition.

The PPP leadership decided that Gilani would tender his resignation before the Supreme Court in person if he faced any "situation" in the contempt case.

The PM will tell the court about the government's constitutional stance on the issue of presidential immunity.

The Supreme Court resumes hearing on the case today. On Monday, the contempt proceedings against PM Gilani were adjourned as his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan was unwell.

A seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk is hearing the contempt of court case against Gilani for failing to act on the apex court's earlier orders to reopen graft cases against President Zardari in Switzerland.

The apex court has been pushing the PPP-led government to revive the cases against Zardari since December 2009, when it annulled the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

The government has refused to act, saying the Constitution gives the President immunity in Pakistan and abroad. Gilani has said he would prefer to be jailed in a contempt case launched against him by the apex court for not reopening the graft cases.

Raza Gilani contempt case: Pak SC to resume hearing today

Pakistan’s Supreme Court will on today resume contempt of the court proceedings against Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani for his refusal to write to the Swiss authorities in connection with the graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardadri.

The apex court had earlier set the deadline for Gilani to approach the Swiss authorities till today.

The matter comes up for hearing two days after Prime Minister Gilani said that he was prepared to resign if the issue of approaching Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari was resolved by his departure.

"I will be happy if my quitting the post helps solve this issue," Gilani said while interacting with a group of reporters at his residence in Lahore.

Gilani referred to a "third option" resigning from the post of premier when he was asked about the Supreme Court's ultimatum to reopen the cases against the President or facing imprisonment for committing contempt of court.

"I am ready for the third option if the matter is resolved. But after my going, a new Prime Minister will have to face the same dilemma," he said.

Over the past few days, Gilani has said he will not write a letter to the Swiss authorities to revive the cases against Zardari as the President enjoys immunity from prosecution under the Constitution.

Gilani had been maintaining that all the cases abroad against the President had been conclusively closed by the competent authority of the concerned country and time for filing appeal had also lapsed.

He said the recommendations for not writing letters to the Swiss authorities were based on legal opinions including those of the former Law Secretary and a former Attorney General of Pakistan as well as other material and documents from Switzerland.

In his submissions to the highest court of Pakistan, he said that he acted on the advice expressed in the Summary put up by the Law Ministry. All other directions of the court had been complied with and implemented.

The Prime Minister said he has neither committed nor intended to commit contempt and acted strictly in accordance with the rules of Business. He said the prosecution has failed to link him to any willful and contumacious disregard. There is no question of any willful contumacy on his party.

Prime Minister in his statement maintained that the Head of State has absolute immunity in both criminal as well as civil jurisdiction of all other states under all international laws. He said he thinks it would be wrong to subject the constitutionally elected incumbent President of Pakistan to the authority of a magistrate of a foreign country and it should be avoided.