PM Yousuf Raza Gilani Charged With Contempt
Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has been indicted by the Supreme Court in the much-talked about contempt of court case. Gilani is accused of failing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The prime minister, who faces jail and being barred from office if convicted, pleaded not guilty.
Gilani is the first prime minister of the country who has been indicted. He was indicted over not implementing paragraph 178 of NRO verdict spreading over two pages. Gilani reached Supreme Court to appear beforce the bench for contempt proceedings. His counsel Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Interior Minister Rehman Malik was also accompanied with the prime minister.
A large number of government officials and political leaders were present in the apex court for the contempt proceedings including government allies Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and other leaders of the ruling coalition. The Supreme Court has said Gilani defied a court order to write to the Swiss authorities and ask them to re-open the cases against Mr Zardari.
Gilani is expected to argue that he received legal advice that it would have been unconstitutional to pursue the cases. Attorney General (AG) Maulvi Anwarul Haq has been asked by the apex court to act as the prosecutor by the SC. Aitzaz Ahsan has informed the court that he needs time until February 24 for filing the answers to the charges against the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Earlier, the prime minister denied the charges after the charge sheet was read out to him. The PM said he has understood the charges and denies them. Gilani is expected to argue that he received legal advice that it would have been unconstitutional to pursue the cases. Asif Zardari says the charges against him are politically motivated. Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk said that judges may not be available on February 24.
A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed heard the case.
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