SC adjourns Gilani contempt case till Feb 2

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has adjourned the contempt of court case hearing against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani till February 2.

During the proceedings, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan told the apex court that Prime Minister Gilani has not committed contempt of court by not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Ahsan appeared before a nine-judge bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, which resumed the hearing.

At the hearing, Aitzaz Ahsan argued that the Prime Minister didn’t write the letter to the Swiss authorities since he was of the opinion that the President Zardari enjoys immunity by virtue of his office.

“If you prove immunity we will not further proceed,” Justice Mulk remarked.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said he was not speaking of presidential immunity but was expressing the prime minister’s views in the context of the Constitution.

Ahsan said the president enjoyed immunity across the world.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012