Wednesday, March 21, 2012

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.

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