No objection on going to prison if so Supreme Court desires: Gilani
President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister have immunity under constitution, says Gilani.
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND:
With the temperature near zero in Davos, it failed to take any edge off Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani who, during an interview to CNN on Friday, said that he had no objection if the Supreme Court desired to send him to prison, given his reluctance to send letters to Swiss authorities and reopen cases closed under the National Reconciliation Ordinance.
Reiterating that the President, along with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister enjoyed immunity under the constitution, he said that this immunity was guaranteed in Pakistan as well as internationally.
"The court decided to send a letter to the Swiss courts, which we said according to the Constitution he (the President) has a complete immunity not only inside Pakistan, but also transnational immunity not only for the President, the Prime Minister and even the Foreign Minister," Gilani said.
"That is the old case, which is pending since a long time for which the President had also completed about eight years in prison," he added.
Musharraf to be arrested upon return
Gilani reiterated that if former President Pervez Musharraf returns, he would "certainly" be arrested.
"In fact, there had been murder charges against him, and there had even been some very grave charges against him, and the Supreme Court had already given a verdict against him," Gilani said in the interview to CNN on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"Certainly, when he'll come back, he has to face those charges and certainly be arrested," Prime Minister Gilani said in the interview.
Pakistan fighting for its survival
On the war on terrorism, the Prime Minister said, "We are fighting for our own selves, for our own survival, because these militants, they have killed 30,000 innocent people, 5,000 brave soldiers."
The war, Gilani said, has caused a "loss of economy," but investment in the country remains.
"Yes, we are fighting a war on extremism and terrorism, and we're a frontline state, yes, there are a lot of challenges," he said. "But it doesn't mean that there is no investment coming to Pakistan. We have offered very lucrative incentives for the investment in Pakistan and there are is a lot of investment coming to Pakistan."
The Prime Minister also talked about the recent tiff between Pakistan and the US over the Nato attack on Pakistani checkposts at Salala. He said people in Pakistan are "bitter" over the attack.
"We have paid so much price for the war on terrorism," Gilani said. "People should appreciate our struggle.
With the temperature near zero in Davos, it failed to take any edge off Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani who, during an interview to CNN on Friday, said that he had no objection if the Supreme Court desired to send him to prison, given his reluctance to send letters to Swiss authorities and reopen cases closed under the National Reconciliation Ordinance.
Reiterating that the President, along with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister enjoyed immunity under the constitution, he said that this immunity was guaranteed in Pakistan as well as internationally.
"The court decided to send a letter to the Swiss courts, which we said according to the Constitution he (the President) has a complete immunity not only inside Pakistan, but also transnational immunity not only for the President, the Prime Minister and even the Foreign Minister," Gilani said.
"That is the old case, which is pending since a long time for which the President had also completed about eight years in prison," he added.
Musharraf to be arrested upon return
Gilani reiterated that if former President Pervez Musharraf returns, he would "certainly" be arrested.
"In fact, there had been murder charges against him, and there had even been some very grave charges against him, and the Supreme Court had already given a verdict against him," Gilani said in the interview to CNN on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"Certainly, when he'll come back, he has to face those charges and certainly be arrested," Prime Minister Gilani said in the interview.
Pakistan fighting for its survival
On the war on terrorism, the Prime Minister said, "We are fighting for our own selves, for our own survival, because these militants, they have killed 30,000 innocent people, 5,000 brave soldiers."
The war, Gilani said, has caused a "loss of economy," but investment in the country remains.
"Yes, we are fighting a war on extremism and terrorism, and we're a frontline state, yes, there are a lot of challenges," he said. "But it doesn't mean that there is no investment coming to Pakistan. We have offered very lucrative incentives for the investment in Pakistan and there are is a lot of investment coming to Pakistan."
The Prime Minister also talked about the recent tiff between Pakistan and the US over the Nato attack on Pakistani checkposts at Salala. He said people in Pakistan are "bitter" over the attack.
"We have paid so much price for the war on terrorism," Gilani said. "People should appreciate our struggle.