President Zardari enjoys immunity, Gilani tells SC

Amidst tussle with the military, beleaguered Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday arrived in the Supreme Court to respond to a contempt notice issued to him for failing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani is appearing before a seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, which summoned him to explain his refusal to write to Switzerland authorities to reopen graft cases against the President.

During the contempt proceedings in the court, the Pakistani PM said the Pakistani Constitution guarantees immunity to Zardari, hence no letter was written to Swiss authorities to revive cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari.

Showing great respect to the judiciary, the Pakistani PM said he cannot even think of committing contempt. I have been to court many times before and have also served a six-year jail sentence earlier, said Gilani during the contempt proceedings in the court.

Gilani's lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan maintained that Zardari enjoyed immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution.

The Cabinet ministers are also present at the apex court to show solidarity with the PM.

Meanwhile, special security arrangements have been put in place in Pakistan's Supreme Court for the PM’s appearance today.

The Supreme Court said it had made special arrangements for security, proper decorum and smooth functioning of the court.

These arrangements include special security cameras that have been installed in court rooms and at entry gates and reception areas and special passes to regulate access to the court complex. Even journalists who regularly cover Supreme Court proceedings will be allowed to enter with passes.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday reviewed security arrangements on the eve of the Premier's appearance in the court. He chaired a high-level meeting during which he instructed the Islamabad Police chief to stop general traffic in the Red Zone, a high-security area in the heart of the city, from midnight till proceedings are over in the court.

Malik ordered police to maintain three cordons of security around the Supreme Court. The entry will be manned by the Supreme Court Security Police personnel and the outer cordons will be the responsibility of police and paramilitary personnel.