What was the case against Gilani about?

Key facts explaining the background of the case.


Reuters April 26, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday found Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani guilty of contempt of court for refusing to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, but gave him only a symbolic sentence of a few minutes' detention in the courtroom.         

The following are some key facts explaining the background of the case:

 

  • Gilani was summoned before the Supreme Court on January 19 for failing to take steps to re-open money-laundering proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari. He was indicted for contempt of court on February 13.

  • The civilian-judicial confrontation stems from thousands of cases thrown out in 2007 under an amnesty ordered by former military president Pervez Musharraf, which paved the way for a return to civilian rule.

  • Zardari was the decree's most prominent beneficiary. He became the main target of the court when it voided the measure in 2009 and ordered the government to ask Swiss authorities to restart legal action against him.

  • The cases date back to the 1990s, when Zardari had multiple cases of corruption lodged against him, including accusations of money laundering using Swiss accounts. He says all the cases are false and politically motivated.

  • Gilani and his advisers have defied the court, citing the president's constitutional immunity as head of state. The prime minister appealed the court's decision to charge him with contempt, but that appeal was dismissed in February.

COMMENTS (9)

Nayla | 11 years ago | Reply

When generals with multiple acts of high treason and no support in masses can stay in power always with the help of SC then what is the problem with elected PM being in office? PM should leave the office after all legal avenues are exhausted. Only the same day the PM and PPP has proved their popularity among rural masses when they defeated PML-N in Punjab Assembly elections on a seat that PML-N had never lost. The moment PM loses his majority in the parliament he would have to resign, prior to that it is his party’s decision. PM has proved himself that he is not a traitor and would go down for the party as a foot soldier. BTW, even after the lists of politicians who received money from ISI to defeat PPP, how many voices are raised against them as corrupt or they should resign?

saqibtahir | 11 years ago | Reply

PPP won election in Multan today. This is the reaction from people.

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