Pakistani PM Appears In Supreme Court In Contempt Notice

Islamabad, Jan 19, IRNA – Pakistani beleaguered Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday appeared before the country’s Supreme Court for failing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, court officials said. On Monday, the apex court had issued a contempt notice against the Prime Minister on the plea that he has failed to act on its earlier directive to reopen corruption cases against President Zardari and others issued over two years ago. Nearly 40 ministers, several governors, provincial chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, leaders of the ruling coalition parties and lawmakers are accompanying the Prime Minister when he will appear before a seven-bench of the apex court. A legal team, headed by Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, will defend the Prime Minister. The apex court has been mounting pressure on the PPP-led government since December 2009, to reopen the graft cases after striking down the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty that was issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. The government has refused to act on the order, saying the president enjoys immunity under the Constitution. The parliament threw weight behind the Prime Minister this week when it passed a resolution to support the ‘leadership’; and democracy. He had argued in the National Assembly, Lower House of the parliament, that the judiciary and military will have to protect democracy despite differences with his government. The judiciary and military could not 'pack up' or derail the democratic system, he said. The Prime Minister is likely to make a statement to explain his own version of the event. The Court had last week warned the Prime Minister of disqualification as one of the options if he did not accept the court’s order. The ruling party says President Zardari enjoys full immunity from criminal cases in Pakistan and abroad and the constitutional immunity had been notified and that the Prime Minister cannot be held guilty of contempt./end