ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, while speaking during a session of the federal cabinet on Wednesday, said that he will appear in the Supreme Court of Pakistan for the contempt of court case hearing against him on Thursday.
The premier was charged with contempt by the apex court in February for refusing to write to the Swiss authorities to ask them to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
“The court has summoned me for the third time and I have decided to appear in the court tomorrow. I am doing this because I respect the judiciary and courts.”
The premier said that he was satisfied with his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan’s input in the proceedings of the case. Gilani also said that he was satisfied with Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir’s input.
“We respect the court and we will go. We should not react; whoever wants to accompany me during the hearing is most welcome,” he said.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the cabinet will accompany him to the Supreme Court when the verdict will be announced.
During Tuesday’s hearing, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment, announcing it will unveil it on April 26.
A seven-member bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, had Ahsan, to make sure that his client is present before the court on the day.
The prime minister has appeared twice before in court and has maintained his innocence throughout, saying he had done nothing against the rules of business. Aitzaz, meanwhile, had argued that the bench was not eligible to hear the case as it had taken the notice itself.
‘Supreme Court trying to put country’s economy at stake’
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Fawad Chaudhry has asked the Supreme Court to take into consideration the huge economic cost country may suffer due to political instability after its verdict in the prime minister contempt case.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Fawad said that according to the Constitution, the prime minister can only lose office if he resigns, or if there is a vote of no confidence, or if he no longer remains an MNA.
Any decision of the court does not entail automatic disqualification of the prime minister, but it means that he will continue to keep his office unless a reference is sent to Chief Election Commissioner for his disqualification, Fawad said.
He also reminded the court that under the contempt law, the prime minister also vests the right to appeal any adverse order. “In such situations it may take several months to decide the fate of new political set up.”
He said that the country’s economy would be hit and the life of ordinary man may be ‘severely disturbed’ if Supreme Court tries to force Gilani into leaving office.
COMMENTS (21)
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Notice the the level of litracy in these comments, everybody who's criticized the PM has written terrible English, but the PM supporters have composed better. That tells you about demographics of PPP critics. They keep screaming about corruption while drowning out any voice of sanity. The corruption is most prevailent in our society as a whole. AAZ has never been convicted by these pco judges, why now when democracy has started to take roots?
Respect for pm
We love you Prime Minister. Whatever the court decides, we know you are innocent and our best wishes will always be with you.
We are with you Mr Prime Minister!
@ali gilani: What are you talking about. In my view now the whole Pakistan is a mockery and nothing else where people like you are Ruling. You blame Nawaz, Chief Justice and Army for the action against Corruption and PM and it is out of my comprehension. MQM, ANP and PPP as you said are victims but their governance is the worst in Pakistan and PMLN is in Punjab and their governance is best compared to the rest. People were more satisfied in Musharraf regime than this democracy and you are blaming Army and Nawaz. Believe me people want Martial law back than this democratic mockery that we have right now.
iam agree with the comments of aj khan, well don aj khan, mr Gillani compleatly failed in all deparmemt of the country to gave any releaf to the people, my vote is for PTI, IF NOT THEN PK ARMY WELL COME.
If the cabinet wants to join Gilani, make the members walk the distance from the main Supreme Court gate, after all normal security checks, without any guards or security. All should be equal in front of the Court.
PM Mr Gilani should have set an historical precedent in Pakistan by honourably resigning from his office the very first day he, for one reason or another, found himself unable to comply with the SC orders to write the required letter. Instead, he preferred to make the mockery of the apex court by repeatedly denying that against all existing civilised and democratic standards in the world.
the speciality of the matter is that Musharraf hasn't appeared in the court but Gillani has. @Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd):
The cost associated with moving Pakistan's 'corrupt' and inefficient ruling elite in their assorted convoys to the Supreme Court is obscene. Given the current state of the economy, I would have thought there was plenty to be done in their respective ministries.
Mr Gilani you should be quitting office for many reasons other than the contempt of court. You have failed on following counts:- 1. Poor Governance. 2. Financial collapse of the country. 3. Failure to defend the country against the terrorists . 4. Failure to give security and protection to the people. 5. Intra-religious , sectarian and communal disharmony in the country. 6. Secessionist movement in the country. 7. Unbridled corruption including your own family members. 8. No development, broken roads, air and rail system. 9. Collapse of energy sector. 10. Crumple of Corporations due to corruption and indolence. 11. Collapse of strategic industries like steel mill. 12. Dying of the industries. 13. Flight of capital. 14. No writ of government and wrecked Law and order situation. 15. Food insecurity. 16. Falling Rupee against the international currency, rising cost of living and increase in poverty. 17. Collapse of Education and Health Sector. 18. Failed Foreign Policy and increased isolation of country.
Gailani would be happy to become "seeyasi shaheed"
Supreme Court should disallow the cabinet lackeys to follow the PM in the court room
An accused has to come to the Court. Nothing new or special about it.
Please Mr. PM if you want PAKISTANI FLAG high as you pin in your valuable dress then you must obey the PAKISTANI law. Mr. PM if you respect the judiciary and courts, then simply follow the LAW. If you follow the law it will automatically shown that you respect the judiciary and courts.