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Contempt case: Imprisonment sentence was wrong, says Aitzaz
Aitzaz says it is not possible to give an imprisonment sentence without giving a reason for it.
Aitzaz says it is not possible to give a sentence of imprisonment without giving a reason for it. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, commenting on the court’s verdict in the contempt case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, said that the court was wrong in giving a sentence of imprisonment to the prime minister even though it was of a mere 30 seconds, Express News reported on Tuesday.
While talking to the media, Aitzaz said that he or the prime minister had never given any indication of not accepting the court’s order. In fact, he said, “The court’s order has always been accepted.”
“The fact that the prime minister quietly accepted his imprisonment sentence till the rising of the court is proof of that,” said Aitzaz, adding that if the sentence had been longer, the prime minister would have still complied with it.
He said, however, that it was not possible to give a sentence of imprisonment without giving a reason for it, adding, “And that too by the bench that itself was the prosecutor.”
“We have these objections with the verdict and many more, both with the short order and the detailed verdict,” said Aitzaz.
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Shame on you Mr Aitezaz, you have let us down!
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Ya it was wrong imprisonment, it should have been at least 3 years in Jail.
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Keep making mockery of Pakistani nation…
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30 years even better
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The defense and prosecuting attorneys were both defending the PM, so somebody had to take up the role of prosecution. Mr. Ahsan, the devil’s advocate, should stop beating around the bush, his senate seat, LPG contracts were enough for this ‘champion’ of free judiciary to leave his principles and join the corruptest of the corrupt.
He cant change the fact that PM willfully disobeyed and ridiculed the judiciary and got sentenced for it.
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The process of self-humiliation once gets started never stops till it reaches to its lowest ebbs….. AA is belittling his own name & repute by displaying this non-professional stubbornness.
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“The court’s order has always been accepted.”
Trust what he is saying, after all the world is blind except for two sane people!
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Mr Aitzaz, do you anything like “Morality” in your dictionary?
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yes supreme court is wrong and he is right look at mr right’s face shame on u aitezaz u know what just leave the country or u regret it……..
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I am not a lawyer to comment on the statement but one thing is sure we all know Gilani purposeful kept on disobeying & ridiculing the court, We all know why he did not wanted to write to the swiss government and whom and why he was protecting. Aitzaz had two tounges a lawyers and another political….he can keep doing it….but we the people know the courts were right…gilani was wrong.
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Aitzaz, your disparaging remarks about a supreme court bench are in bad taste. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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@menteliscio: A lawyer is supposed to defend even mass murders. So do not blame Aitzaz for anything.
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Aitzaz Seb@ You sold your soul just for one Senator ship and employment of your daughter? How poor ypu are at the end? With which face you are going to face CJ, You already mentioned during Wakala tehreek that you never filed any case infront of CJ? Where is now your real face.
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At least they go to courts and jail. Take a look at Retd. Generals ( Aslam Baig etc) and Khaki corruption. How they make fun of courts but all is well for them………….
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Aitizaz is a a learned great lawyer , the judges seems to be pygmies.
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Whenever I see Aitzaz’s pic, this reminds me Hollywood film… Devil’s Advocate….
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Bravo! —– You need guts, a lot of guts to stand up, against whole bunch of adversaries, for what you believe in and defend the rights guaranteed by the constitution; law is blind and doesn’t differentiate and must not discriminate anyone due to popular public or media created perceptions or politicized judicial matters. If ever in big trouble I wish me, or anyone for that matter, Aitazaz Ahsan fight and defend me in a court of law, even if the dice is loaded against me—-I’ve started liking this Aitazaz Ahsan even more!
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This time Aitzaz fee will be Rs.50 without perks.Wow What a countrrrrrrry………..?
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@PhD_Norway:
Sir, it is highly requested to first read out the Contempt of Court Ordinance and then make any comments. In civil contempt, accused cannot be sentenced more than six months..
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Aitezaz is using delaying tactic to go in circles…how can we believe you anymore? please get rid of this mafia…
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Shame on You Mr. Devil’s Devil. Your true picture has now in front of all. You are a real greedy person. You can sell any thing…. i guess…. Tell us if there is any limit?
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Aitizaz, ppl made you Titanic, which in now Sinking???
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time for tsunami march
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this guy is total sell out
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He can leave Pakistan “who is stopping him?”
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Welldone AA.
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Aitzaz, If you say this judgement is wrong than why you said General (R) Mushraff imprisonment was wrong and take the lead role in the Restoration of the sitting Honorable Judges. Fake person can’t hide it self long although once he become holy cow and Quaid. You are just the ordinary person having no charater. Shame on Hypocrisy attitude.
Danial Hussain
Islamabad.
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@Aitzaz: You have put a very good show so far. Let your critics keep foaming their mouth and go out of breath. You say it what is right. In criminal proceeding, no judge can convict anyone without giving solid reasons. And this poetry is a new phenomenon in writing orders. These so called judges are destroying this important state institution. You swore to protect and uphold the constitution, today it is being threatened by its custodians. Keep up the wonderful work. One final question does the CJ come under the definition of a judge in the constitution, or you still think that he is a different creature?
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What a politics played by the PPP and AA.Recommend
Aitezaz, you sold yourself too cheaply.
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Well Done! Keep it up.. Its impossible to make every body happy.
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If Politician follows Constitution, he is contempt so-called honorable rather horrible court and punished … but if Lawyer slap judge with shoes or General (even rtd) insulted courts “sorry is enough” WHAT A Judiciary “
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All those talking against AA as if they know the subject of law. If AA is saying something then anything against it should come from an expert,
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Aitezaz I never thought that you will go down so low. Shame on you. I do not like to comment on you any more.
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Mr. Aitezaz Ahsan you made us realize that “Nation must be extra extra cautious in selecting there heroes”. I think we all must be …… Thanks.
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@ijazmir:
I am confident that these judges can go low even further than they already have.
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Aitzaz Ahsan has been thoroughly professional throughout this case. However, It is mind boggling that he intentionally avoided arguing the merits of presidential immunity before the apex court. Interestingly, the court also did not utilize such a clear constitutional basis available for a precedent setting judgement. This seems to suggest that the establishment is more conniving and sophisticated than most of us would expect.
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Serves you right Aitzaz Ahsan, isn’t this the same CJ who you sat in the front seat of your car during the long march, while trying to get him put back, and then you people tout this judiciary is fair, objective and independent. They are equally politically motivated Recommend
There is a solid reason for convicting the prime minister by the judge and Aitzaz could not defend his client despite the fact he was given ample time by the jury
the case against PM was his refusal to comply the judiciary to write a letter to bring back USD 60million in the name of Mr Asif Ali Zardari a citizen of Pakistan have undeclared assets in form of cash
The PM is under OATH to defend and protect the constitution and not to favour any citizen of pakistan his friends or associate or his BOSS
Aitzaz saab you have a right to defence of client but stick to law and stop misguiding your party and your Boss .Recommend
The comment itself is a contempt of Court. It is an insult of the highest court. Such worthless political comments will destroy the respect judiciary should enjoy in a democratic country.
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Would high treason and mutilation of contitution ever be a criminal act in Pakistan or the judges and generals keep committing worst crimes and getting away with that? Attacking SC, stealing elections against PPP by the rightwing and ISI, and multiple acts of high treason, BB and Taseer murder are not worth even an hour in the PCO SC.
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God bless you Aitzaz ,you are a genius and we are proud of you
so much criticism from the forces of dark. should not deter you
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As a lawyer I absolutely agree with Mr Aitzaz. This is completely illegal and unconstitutional judgement on many grounds. Those who are supporting the SC verdict are doing that on partisan, political and emotional basis, they don’t know the law. This is a fact that the verdict violates many provisions of our Constitution and of our laws, whether we like it or not. This judgement should be set aside in the interest of rule of law.
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this case should be referred to international court of justice
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Mr. Ahsan you are a great leader and I salute you, A true leader will always stand up for the principles, and you always have done so. Mr. Ahsan you stood up against a general and dictator for the independence of judiciary and was successful. Mr. Ahsan you will stand up against a partial and biased judiciary and you will be successful.. Many neutral and international observer are calling this judiciary biased and partial, president of supreme court bar associations like Justice Tariq, Asima Jahangir they are internationally renowned lawyers and all of these have questioned the SC and CJ. Even Pakistan Bar Council objected the way CJ nominates new judges. All the lawyers complain about SC excessive obsessive behavior regarding political cases and negligence towards the cases of common citizens..
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Please apologise for imposing these PCO judges on our heads Mr Aitzaz Ahsan. BB shaheed never wanted to support thus PCO judge and neither President Zardari but you and many dissidents never paid a heed. Now see before your own eyes how Constitution is made a mockery in Court room number one on a daily basis.
In the name of azaad adliya, the doctrine of necessity is invoked on a daily basis including this very judgement.
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Everythings is a delima here, Aitazaz wuz supporting CJ for a very long time but now he says that the sentence given by CJ was wrong. Either we fools, are you people are just change your faces with passage of time, let wait for the moment but am completly dishearted of Aitazaz being a reader of all the papers…
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@Mujahid torwali:
I hear you loud and clear. But we are humans and whatever we know or do is due to our learning ability. I have evolved on some things that I did not like before. This is a process of constant learning. I was born and bred as a fundamentalist but grew or evoloved to be a tolerant secular person. I have supported the CJ and his restoration by forgiving his PCO oath like many of us did. Yet we are bitterly disappointed about his performance after restoration. One has to choose between lesser of the two evils and at that time we gave the benefit of doubt to CJ.
People change their mind, stop smoking, drinking, change religion, party because of continuous progress. Only dummies stick to the same old position that they think was right. It takes a lot of courage to realize our mistake and do the right thing. Let us start anew no matter what the past was. We are not agnels and nobody is always right. It is most difficult to forgive and move on. I am not talking about the professional lotas who change their parties based upon who is in power. I hope you forgive me for being an elder brother!
Thanks and regards,
Mirza
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Judges are free but judiciary is still chained. It is not important what people say about Aitezaz now; what they will say twenty years from now is what counts. I am sure the history will treat him with far more respect than he ever enjoyed in his life.
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PM Gilani is disobeyed the orders of Supreme Court orders WHY? Now we should think Are they sincere with this country or the people of Pakistan. He saved the most Corrupt Person in the history of the man kind. its really our hard luck the Zardari is the President of our country. This corrupt PPP Government never think and didn’t do anything to this country despite of giving Oil prices increses day by day and Load shading and asking immunity for Zardari.
We had great respect for Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan but he supported the most corrupt people….History never forgive them.. i really don’t understand why they forget their Judgement day when nobody can hide themselves..i pray for my beloved country to give us honest and sincere people who rule and make this country prosper and develop with dignity.
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Mr Aitezaz, a political activist, praised leader should not be a part of this pathetic scam that this convicted prime minister is busy orchestrating. His CNN interview puts the entire country to shame.Recommend
LOL this guy makes me laugh. He comes on media telling that Judges are wrong when he failed and failed because he picked the wrong case without knowing the truth himself. Judges should tell why ? and Mr Gillani should not tell Why he did not ? Recommend
Pity the judiciary which is anything but judicious
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I came to know Aitzaz Ahsan about 30 years ago in “Faiz Aman Mela” and instantly liked him after listening to his introduction and put him in my list of people I respected. Unfortunately, he lost my respect when he was Federal Interior Minister and I read about him giving the lists of Sikh activists to Indian authorities which resulted in their extra-judicial mass killings by Indian security forces. For me, it was hard to believe such a betrayal and back stabbing by one I respected. Later on, he made up for his sin when he so fervently struggled for a right cause of restoration of judiciary. But look what he did. He decided to defend the known looters of Bank of Punjab – Sheikh Haris et.al. defrauded BOP of Rs. 8 billion of poor people money – and charged them Rs. 15 million out of the looted money just to contest a Bail Petition. Recently, he once again chose to defend the corrupt (this time at a nominal fee of just Rs. 100, though, the Senate seat usually cost Rs. 50 million); who in turn was defending another corrupt, convicted by Swiss courts of laundering US$ 60 million of graft money; and in doing so, he denounced his own previous stance so often reiterated by him.
There are no words to describe the people who defend corruption by defending the corrupt on any pretext – lawyer or commoner alike – by pledging to the Constitutional Immunity. There is no law in any country of the world which provide exemptions to anyone for doing corruption. Presidential Immunity a not license of corruption and plunder, and anyone asking for Immunity in this context is himself making a mockery of the Constitution and the Law.
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“tell it to birds” james hadely chase – it fits here.
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Mr Aitzaz if you cannot accept the verdicts of our SC then please take the advice of your very own beloved PM and leave the country.
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