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Pakistani PM holds consultations ahead of court appearance

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19, IRNA -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had been involved in consultations with legal experts ahead of his appearance in the Supreme Court in a contempt of court notice, officials said.

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a contempt notice to the Prime Minister for his ‘failure to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Court had asked the Prime Minister to personally appear before a 7-member bench of the apex court on January 19 to explain as to why he is not implanting the court’s order.

Prime Minister Gilani told the parliament Monday night that he would appear before the Supreme Court to clarify his position.

Gilani consulted legal experts and also appointed a renowned lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan to defend him in the court, an official announcement said.

The Supreme Court issued the contempt notice after the judges ruled that the Prime Minister ‘deliberately’ did not act on the court’s orders to send a letter to the Swiss authorities to open graft cases against President Zardari.

The court also wanted the government should open cases against nearly 8000 political leaders and government officers who took advantage of an amnesty law introduced by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

The apex court had declared that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) unconstitutional and illegal in 2009.

The ruling Pakistan People Party (PPP) has refused to send the letter, arguing that the President has immunity and no case could be initiated against the President. President Zardari also said this month that his ruling party has decided not to send the letter.

All corruption cases against the President and many politicians and government officers had been dropped after the PPP struck a deal with Pervez Musharraf.

Despite immense pressure from the court, the government has refused to write to Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against Zardari, saying the President enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30772330