- RSS
- Today's Paper
- Subscribe
- beta 2.1
Alerts
Zardari signs contempt of court amendment bill
Bill provides immunity from contempt proceedings to high office holders.
President Asif Ali Zardari gave his consent to the controversial contempt of court amendment bill on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari gave his consent to the controversial contempt of court amendment bill on Thursday, Express News has reported.
The bill will provide immunity from contempt proceedings to high office holders, including the prime minister, president, chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers as well as governors.
It had earlier been passed by the National Assembly on Monday and the Senate on Wednesday.
The move is key given that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s reply is due on whether he would be following the court directives on writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and his late wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The cases had been closed earlier under the controversial NRO, which was struck down by the court as void ab initio in 2009.
Read more:
contemptlaw
Reader Comments (47)
Pakistan Latest Stories
Elections 2013: Zardari blames ROs for PPP’s defeat in Punjab
Says he will complete his constitutional tenure.
Unruly conduct: Altaf asks MQM workers to apologise
MQM chief orders those who violated the party discipline to tender an apology within 24 hours.
Global recognition: Bahria Town bags five property awards in Malaysia
Bahria Golf City, Sheraton Hotel, Bahria Oasis, Bahria Grand and Gold Spa honoured.
Vandalism: PTI leaders, candidates attacked in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas
Unidentified men torch leaders’ vehicles and fire shots at their homes.
Forging coalition: JUI-F’s Haideri to negotiate alliance with PML-N
Party forms a committee under the veteran leader to discuss the details of partnership.
Tourist attraction: Families flock Swat to beat the heat
Jarral Park offers a variety of summer activities to visitors.
Long waits at PIMS: Disgruntled public wants evening shift
Claims doctors prefer to serve at private clinics.
Balochistan issue: IDPs seek justice from Supreme Court
Express the hope that the incoming government will resolve their problems.
Elections 2013: ‘Dir women disenfranchised for security reasons’
Sirajul Haq says intelligence reports said that female suicide bombers could mount attacks on voters.
Flower power: Floral society meeting
Sobia Riaz, a member demonstrated contemporary flower arrangement.
Recent Slideshows
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed or derived from.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted © 2013 The Express Tribune News Network.
Technical feedback? [email protected]
Tit for tat, good way to teach a lesson.
Recommend
And now the real duel between parliament and judiciary starts
Recommend
Well done sir. Please also issue an ordinance to close all the courts in the country as these courts are only giving punishment to poor.
Recommend
Well done Mr. President.
It is necessary that the government could function without unnecessary
judicial obstruction.
Live with love-Let democracy work
Recommend
Black Day for Pakistan today.
Recommend
who is going to be the first one to benefit from this bill.
Recommend
Higher the office, greater the perks!! Wow!
Recommend
I am very disappointed. What are we doing to this country.
Recommend
Your move, CJ.
Recommend
the amendment bill is simply for saving the politicians from judicial / lawful impositions.. NRO has to be scrapped .None can be immune from his/her unlawful activities.. Immunity is for the policies/decisions taken during the course of governance/ administration and not for the actions resulting in personal gains. You not only have to be honest but you must also look like to be honest. there can not be democracy if the judiciary is not independent.
Recommend
The whole legal system is for the poor? They called themselves Muslims, what a shame!
Recommend
Why all judgements against PPP? Good ordinance! Now what?
Recommend
It will be struck down very soon. No need to get excited.
Recommend
So now there are two classes in Pakistan! One of the them is above the law. Let’s declare Monarchy.
Recommend
This PPP is making a Total MESS of Pakistan
Recommend
A step in the right direction. About time PCO judges be taught a lesson!
Recommend
Well Done Mr President. This shows your true commitment and love towards Pakistan..Now you or any other “high office holders” can say or do anything against the judicial system and you will not be QUESTIONED..With this and many other amendments to the constitution, which I am sure you and your administration will bring about, you are surely saving Pakistan. This shows your commitment towards Pakistan that came into existence on the pillars of RESPECT, UNITY, PEACE, FAITH and above all EQUALITY. Who cares about Judiciary or Law. You are above the board. The times are gone when my beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) used to sit and eat with his people and was OPEN to question and Advise, when Ali (R.A), Usman (RA), Abu Bakr (RA) and all were accountable for any of their actions and even when Jinnah was fair in his administration. With this action of yours, you can never be questioned on anything now. I wish Jinnah, Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jauhar could actually come back and see what’s happening in Pakistan, yes the “Pakistan” that they struggled so much for.
Recommend
Shame for parlimenty and senate. Shame for PPP, MQM, ANP and PML(Q).
Recommend
No fear of God and no fear of Law, that is Pakistan politics.
Recommend
Did people vote for PPP in 2008 elections for such bills. Shame for federal government.
Recommend
@Jeffmahagaonvi:
LOL.! GROW UP.! PLEASE.!
Can you please tell me what single thing they have done for Pakistan in past 4 years…??
Recommend
It is a dark day in the history of Pakistan. Shame for PPP and other coalition parties voting for the bill.
Recommend
Another step backwards. Do people of Pakistan really want to send out a message via this Law that it’s OK for Pakistani politicians to swindle common man’s money (or which was ment for the betterment of society/people/infrastructure) and not be questioned by any? Not even judiciary which is the keepers of the law of the land?!
Such laws will promote politicians to swindle even more money given by international institutions like IMF, World Bank, UN for people’s benefit. Really a sorry day indeed.
Recommend
very quick action ….All other issues are pending.
Recommend
As CJ can’t be questioned whether he is working in the boundry of law or not ……………. similarly President, PM etc
Tit for TAT
Recommend
I wish ET has a “Report Abuse” button for readers to deal with comments…..I was going to press it for derogatory comment by “Truth Teller”
Recommend
Yes, This is what a democratic Party do. They are proud to call them selves Democrats.
Recommend
The purpose of supreme court is not to uphold the law but to bring the PPP government down
This is politics and PPP has no choice but to confront and bring this supreme court to its senses
Recommend
crisis after crisis in the national interest?????
Recommend
Make no mistake 25th July 2012 will be the D-day for PPP.
PPP government may be making tactical moves (Contempt Bill 2012) but SC knows how to rope the crooked. They are duty bound to nab the criminals and be rest assured they will do it.
Remember the words of Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan, ex-Attorney General of Pakistan who parted ways on the letter issue and stated publicly that the letter to Swiss authorities will have to be written. He said “inko khath likhna hoga.” Period.
Law will indeed take its due course. Let us wait for 25th July. Its Wednesday.
Recommend
Demorcracy is the best revenge…
Recommend
Seeing the conduct and arrogance of judiciary, such bill is required to save the people from wrath of Judges.
Recommend
Is the contempt of court less of a crime if committed by high officers than the one committed by poor or average citizens?
Recommend
Amazingly this bill has been passed very quickly and signed up by Mr. Zardari for save own wealth. While one blind is also known that if matter is subjudice that no one made any law in this regards, but here blind of mind done its very well. Today I feel shame on parlementarian for this act.Recommend
This is becoming a joke. Pakistan’s legislators are above the law with this amendment. Recommend
Zardari of course is trying to save his own skin. Nothing will save him or anyone else. The law that he signed is ultra vires of the Pakistan Constitution.
Recommend
Agreed with what most people have said that judiciary needs to be independent. However independence does have a limit. Had the CJ not overstepped his bounds on all things PPP there never would have been a need for this bill. NRO is gone, thats fine, but since Zardari is President, he IS protected by the rights of that office, and under Pak constitution that means blanket immunity from prosecution. Under no circumstances can any PM write that letter regardless of whether the CJ said it Immunity needs to be addressed before not after the letter is written. I love this move on the part of Executive and Legislative branches because it establishes a check on the Judiciary. Ultimately if the people of Pakistan dont like this, they have the option, perhaps very soon, of electing new Legislative branch that is more CJ friendly or not. And those members will in turn elect a new President. See now this works people. When you vote, you get your way. What a concept!! Recommend
@Mamoon:
Because of theirs rule, Pakistan is still a federation.
As you said single thing.
Live with love-Let democracy work
Recommend
Its not only Jinnah and Johar in the league for independence, our forefathers devoted and sacrificed for this independent (Slaved by Zardari’s, bhutto’s, malik’s, chaudhary’s etc) islamic (which is shame to call islamic “actually without religion and humanity”) state. People of Pakistan now really enjoy all this media hype on dirty political moves. People are sitting siliently and enjoying the show without thinking about the future generations. Its not there fault because they haven’t seen a just and developed society. I bet this era will bring bloodshed at the end and taliban will govern this country. Fate of society depends on the current policies, and without any law, barbarians evolve within the society and burn what ever comes in their way.Recommend
What a joke pakistani politcians are making of democracy,parliamentry system.democracy also means ppl elect to you to loot nations wealthand since one is an ”elected representative,he is above law.
Recommend
Alas! our rulers come from Jagirdari-landed-aristocracy,Sardari nizam, based on absolute dictatorship. The manner in which this hateful contempt of court Amendment bill has been framed, placed, passed and with unusual haste was signed by the president, all this ‘show’ gives foul smell of immoral contention. These short-sighted rulers seem do not know that Pakistan is a Federation, composed of two sets of government, Federal government and the provincial governments.Federal state always has a rigid constitution, and the three organs of the state have their powers with the assigned constitutional role and no organ of the state can dictate other. All disputes between different organs of the Federation are decided by the Supreme Court. and its decisions are regarded as final to be obey by all. The present rulers of ‘NRO’ roots know all this too well but are trying their best to delay their known destiny and prolong their stay in the seat of authority on whimsical ground, but how long they could play their negative game on wrong side of the slippery ground. They have to obey the Supreme Court decision.There is no other way out.
Recommend
Shame for President and PPP.
Recommend
What else is the corruption. It is the superlative degree of corruption.
Recommend
Shame for PPP, MQM and other coalition parties. Recommend
usually he called a geniues of politics, honestly ive yet to see any single step of geniues out of this street bully who happened to be our presiedent i dont understand how low can he go or i am sure alziemers is back in him…..
Recommend
@Sahibzada Shabir:
thats there family business my friend
Recommend
i think presidency should be mobed and he should be beaton to pulp in front of big pile of millions dollars
Recommend