ISLAMABAD: A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court resumed
the hearing of the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
Earlier on Jan 19, the prime minister had told the apex court respectfully that he had no intention of defaming or ridiculing the judiciary. But, he said, he believed that the Constitution provided a blanket protection to President Asif Ali Zardari.
During today’s hearing, the prime minister’s counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, was presenting his arguments before the bench.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said to Ahsan that if a convincing argument for presidential immunity was established, then there would be no need to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister.
Moreover, Justice Ejaz Afzal said that the letter to Swiss authorities should have been written and the issue of immunity would have come later.
The premier’s counsel told the bench that the president enjoyed immunity from prosecution both inside and outside Pakistan. He further said that while there was no harm in writing the letter to Swiss authorities, not writing the letter was not tantamount to committing contempt of court.
To which, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that the Constitution enabled the court to penalise those who would not comply with its orders.
Furthermore, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the court only wanted the implementation of its orders and that it had no intention of sending the country’s premier to jail.
Earlier on Jan 19, the prime minister had told the apex court respectfully that he had no intention of defaming or ridiculing the judiciary. But, he said, he believed that the Constitution provided a blanket protection to President Asif Ali Zardari.
During today’s hearing, the prime minister’s counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, was presenting his arguments before the bench.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said to Ahsan that if a convincing argument for presidential immunity was established, then there would be no need to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister.
Moreover, Justice Ejaz Afzal said that the letter to Swiss authorities should have been written and the issue of immunity would have come later.
The premier’s counsel told the bench that the president enjoyed immunity from prosecution both inside and outside Pakistan. He further said that while there was no harm in writing the letter to Swiss authorities, not writing the letter was not tantamount to committing contempt of court.
To which, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that the Constitution enabled the court to penalise those who would not comply with its orders.
Furthermore, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the court only wanted the implementation of its orders and that it had no intention of sending the country’s premier to jail.
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