Third party can take advantage; says Aitzaz Ahsan

Third party can take advantage; says Aitzaz Ahsan

Amid growing tension between the judiciary and the executive, Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday warned that any third party could take advantage of the rift.  

Talking to the media persons outside the Supreme Court building, he groaned over the apex court’s verdict in contempt of court case against Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. In an annoying mood, he raised a question that why only civilian leadership was received contempt of court proceedings.

He observed, “Why only civilian prime ministers are indicted in contempt of court and not any military generals?”

On Thursday, the Supreme Court has indicted the prime minister, summoning him in person on February 13. The court said it would to frame the formal charges against the premier with contempt of court for refusing to reopen a corruption case against his boss, President Asif Ali Zardari, in Switzerland.

PM Gilani can face up to six months in jail and possible disqualification from public office if he convicted. A seven-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk gave the ruling after hearing the case.

The court declined Ahsan’s plea for more time to present his arguments in the case. The counsel stated that that his client has the right to appeal against the decision and that he would advice the prime minister to do so.

He, however, said that the premier could only be repositioned from his post through constitutional ways. “Mr Gilani can remain prime minister even if he is convicted,” he observed.

Aitzaz further said that could file an intra-court appeal. He asserted, “There is a possibility for an appeal in this matter. I will suggest to my client to file an appeal against this order. It is up to the court whether to suspend this order or not. This will be decided after getting a copy of the order.”

The Supreme Court since 2009 insisted that the government should dispatch a letter to Swiss authorities, reopening a longstanding corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

However, the incumbent dillydallied, applying a variety of legal maneuvers to circumvent the legal ruling in court. Although, in public it argued that President Zardari enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office but not moved the court seeking so.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=11554

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 2 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. 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.