Pakistan PM faces crucial contempt proceedings

ISLAMABAD, April 11: Hard times are not over yet for Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani as the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as many believe in this country, will inch forward to formally convict him in contempt, pertaining to his stiff stance for not addressing letters to Swiss authorities to re-open alleged graft cases against president Asif Ali Zardari.

A larger bench of Justice Nasir ul Mulk is all set to resume contentions from Thursday of Gilani’s attorney Aitzaz Ahsan, a notable legal mind and senator elect from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.

Ahsan is facing an uphill task to persuade the determined bench of the top Court to drop the contempt charges and let walk his client away.

His basic arguments in the past were directed to prove Gilani as innocent of any contempt by first saying that he was not properly assisted over the legal issues, secondly, produced the concerned officers as defence witnesses to prove his innocence and then raised objections to the sitting Judges.

But on the other hand, the adjudicators of superior judiciary gave a tough time to the attorney by spewing pithy and sarcastic remarks about PPP leadership attitude towards judiciary.

The legal experts have predicted that there is no space left for Gilani except writing letter as the main case over NRO case which had already been closed.

The NRO, a controversial piece of legislation passed during military dictator general Parvez Musharraf’s era to condon all criminal and civil cases against PPP slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Zardari was undone by the apex Court on December 16, 2009, ordering reopening of all cases.

The same bench of Supreme Court will further stretch its jurisdiction on April 16 in yet another related issue against the PM.

Two sons of Gilani have also been facing judicial proceedings for their alleged involvement in graft cases.

Critics are of the view that issues like rampant corruption, unemployment and price hike have brought down popularity graph of once pro-poor majority party in the country.

While the leaders of PPP complained about harsh attitude adopted by judiciary against them while showing laxity for the opponents.

The relations between PPP government and superior judiciary have never been termed as ‘hunky dory’ sort of affair since former’s delaying tactics to restore the dysfunctional judges after the PPP leadership assumed power.

The judges who also refused to accept dictates of former military dictator Musharraf were put in house arrests after his November 3, 2007 executive orders.

A popular lawyers’ movement became the hallmark in the country’s history which was successfully orchestrated by Aitzaz Ahsan, for restoration of these dysfunctional judges.

After much political pressure from political parties and civil society, PM Gilani announced restoration of judges to their offices in 2008.