Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appoints Aitzaz Ahsan as counsel in contempt case

In quite a brilliant move, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has appointed Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan as his counsel in the contempt of court notice. He will brief the premier about legalities and technicalities of the case and will accompany him in the hearing before the Supreme Court, on January 19.

Earlier on January 16, the apex court issued contempt of court notice to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for not implementing rulings of the Supreme Court in the infamous NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) implementation case.

The court asked the premier to appear personally before the Supreme Court on January 19. The premier, after making consultation with his party and cabinet members, agreed to appear before the apex court in person.

The seven-judge bench issued the contempt of court notice to the premier after the federation did not respond in the NRO case.

The bench while hearing the case observed that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani had failed to comply with the apex court’s rulings issued on December 16, 2009, and summoned him before the court.

The contempt of court law envisages that the apex court, after giving the premier a preliminary hearing on January 19, may set a date for framing a charge against him and give decision on the very day.

Apparently, the situation will be improved after appointment of Aitzaz Ahsan in the case. Besides holding a key position in the party, he was one of the frontline supporters in restoration of the judiciary movement.

He was the only leader of the party who openly suggest the premier to write a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening corruption cases, which were closed under the NRO.

He was of the opinion that his viewpoint on writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari was different from other party leaders.

“According to Vienna Convention and Article 248, the president enjoys blanket immunity and in my point of view the government should write a letter to the Swiss government,” the former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association said.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.