Illegal procedures: Apex court asked for interpretation

Petition filed in SC that contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister is illegal.

LAHORE: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court for interpretation of Paragraph 100 of the judgment passed in the NRO case which directed the federal government to write a letter to the Swiss government (Mubashar Hassan judgment (PLD 2010 SC P265)). Watan Party, through Barrister Zafarullah Khan, filed a petition stating that the Supreme Court was proceeding illegally by initiating contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister. The advocate said the SC in Paragraph 100 held, “It is to be noted that while making requests to the foreign states for mutual legal assistance, no request for criminal proceedings in such a state can be demanded. However the courts of the said states may proceed independently for an action which falls within the definition of their municipal laws.” Khan said in view of the paragraph, the prime minister was not bound to write to the Swiss government.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2012.