ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected Aitzaz Ahsan's appeal to protect Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani from contempt of court.
Gilani will appear before the court on February 13 to face indictment charges against him for the government's two-year refusal to write to Swiss authorities to revive cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the final verdict could only be determined after the trial.
Prime Minister’s intra-court appeal hearing was held in the Supreme Court today. Aitzaz Ahsan said in his concluding remarks that he "respects the court" and wants it to take back its show-cause notice.
Earlier, Aitzaz Ahsan said that the court depicted “strict behavior” by giving Gilani a show-cause notice.
Ahsan said that the proceedings of contempt of court are “half of civil nature and half of criminal nature." He said benefit of the doubt should be given to the prime minister in this case, which is currently not being given to him.
Ahsan also prayed to the court that the decision should not be limited to the seven judges on the bench, just because they were the chief justice’s "colleagues".
The chief justice, during yesterday's hearing, had remarked that the appeal itself was in contempt of the court. He had questioned Ahsan on how he could include paragraphs in his appeal which say that the contempt case cannot be initiated against a prime minister who helped in restoring the judges.
COMMENTS (35)
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Surprise surprise!
I have nothing but contempt this Court, this adliya is neither azaad nor graceful enough to adorn that white marble building.
You did well Aitzaz but folks in the twin city as the saying goes, have hired the judge instead of the lawyer.
Jeay Bhutto and Jeay Gillani!
All are evil in PPP while ppl in establishment, PMLN, PTI and MQM are angles. One sided court decisions should a personal grudge of courts against PPP. The partisan courts have always targeted PPP in every era. PPP should revive Misaq e Jamohiryat, where there is NO concept of Supreme court, but a federal court. Pakistan is NOT unitary system, it's federation. Pronvincial courts should be made more powerful, devolve Supreme court. Follow the charter of democracy.
What about our leaders contempt of the people ??
It is only Allah who gives honor and who dishonors a person, nobody can do that. This is from holy Quran and I am not making it up. There are people in Pakistan who would always be called elected by the people, generals and dictators who abrogated the constitution and their oaths of office and the judges who have endorsed their high treason. There are some who are loved by silent majority of the people and there are Justice Munir and Justice Dr. Nasim who have been a target of historians and were ashamed in their last day. There are those who surrender to the enemy and those who give their lives but not surrender. Some would be called elected PM and some brutal dictators. This is a general statement of facts and if the shoe fits wear it.
Sovereign states have sovereign institution which play a vital role in the existance of the states. Now as Pakistanis we should learn to respect these institutions and follow their rulings. PM by his action thwarted ruling of the SC and thus he was rightly indicted in the contempt case. though PM has the right to appeal but there was no chance that a such appeal may be admitted. It was only a waste of time.
@hameediK: His performance in court was pathetic. He tried to gain sympathy having been in the forefront of the 'lawyers movement' and driving CJ in varios cities.
The senate elections should not take place. General elections first the senate elections.
A proxy war being fought by persons suffering from overgrown egos, on all four sides. Loser: the state and it's people. The saddest part this time around: Participation by a new set of players who are supposed to be above it all.
aitazaz sahab has every right to defend the bad guy..In retrospect every bad guy too got every right to have a council of his own choice..
how can the court order a government to write a letter to a foreign government. Just doesnt make sense.
CJP's sorry to Aitzaz Ahsan before pronouncement of judgement was itself a contempt to the court he was presiding as he was not suppose to pass gesture of being passionate to any individual appearing before him
The Swiss will not reopen the case(s) against Zardari anyway, since they say the president enjoys immunity while in office. The whole point of this exercise is mainly to force Gilani out followed by early elections
can anybody update me on the hearing of 11 missing persons sheduled for 9-2-2012.
We respect the decision of CJ .PM should be bought to obey lay .All men are equal in the eyes of LAW
@ Blithe,
Real leaders of movement was Ali Ahmed Kurd and Munir Mailik , The old slim chap who won against a General (at that time mushi).
Enough restraint by Supreme Court. If SC really wants to relieve the people then it should pack up the present regime.
Theatre of the absurd! A President is accused of money laundering. A Prime Minister is indicted for criminal conspiracy. A barrister of great repute says the Highest Court of the land is not authorised to initiate legal proceedings. A federal cabinet jointly decides not to implement a particular court order, come-what-may. Martin Julius Esslin must be turning in his grave!
A bad day for Mr.Aitzaz - however, he has done his best, good luck!
So ?
Please .... my fellow Pakistanis, let's do something constructive for a change ...
@Tahseen kazmi:
By this standard a murderer’s lawyer should also be hanged with his client. What a strange sense of justice you have.
I wish ET would also mention the words the SC just said to the ISI lawyer. strict orders to produce the 7 living detainees captured from Adiala jail today. non-compliance not an option
The real leader of the lawyers' movement was Munir Malik, not Aitzaz Ahsan.
Azaad Adlia Zindabaad. I think contemt notice should aslo issued to Aitizaz Ahsan for defending a bad boy who is not implementing the orders of Supreme Court. This will further inhance the image of our judicial system and country.
Aitizaz Ahsan lost his credibility in Pakistan for politicla reasons.
Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan should demonstrate and establish rule of law and make it known that however high or mighty, if it's order are not followed they will be severly punished
aitzaz now must join PTI as they need him more
PTI troll again goes into full swing
wasting time and resources of the country, CJ can you please hear some appeals of poor people pending from decades? If you are so found of politics appoint another CJ for masses and then you may keep hearing cases of government.
I think it's a suicidal attempt by Aitzaz Hashmi, to defend PPP Govt. He has ruined all the respect, fame he gained throughout his career.
@Word Life: it is not him presenting himself before the CJ. it is CJ who is hearing a case, already filed by Aitizaz.
This guy only promised one thing during the Lawyer's Movement ... That he will not plead any case infront of CJ Iftikhar Chaudhary (if the judges were reinstated) ...
He could'nt even live up to his own words. Your opinions, Sir, are biased and your words cannot be trusted !
Yes Aitizaz Sahib, the Court should encourage the PM to Keep violating / flouting Court Orders.This is what you want to say?