Contempt case: PM says apex court orders are ‘not clear’

Prime minister says he will consult lawyer before making a decision on writing to the Swiss authorities.

ISLAMABAD:

Despite the court’s recent direct order to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani regarding the writing of a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, the premier still says he is “confused”.

Speaking to a group of journalists at the Prime Minister House on Saturday, the prime minister said: “I am confused as it is not clear which case the Supreme Court wants me to address in the letter (to Swiss authorities).”

The premier further said that he was both confused and surprised over the directives of the apex court and the remarks by the judiciary. “I have to sign so many files daily and take decisions in the national interest,” the premier said on Saturday, adding that he would consult his lawyer – Aitzaz Ahsan – before taking any decision.

Confusion aside, he denied the charges of contempt, saying, “I follow rules, I follow the Constitution and I don’t feel that I have done any contempt.”

Prime Minister Gilani further said that the biggest achievement of his government was the passage of amendments restoring the 1973 Constitution in its original form – that, too, without having even a simple majority.

He said that the restoration of the 1973 Constitution was a challenging task when he took over as the chief executive four years ago, but his government accomplished it with the support of other political parties by passing three constitutional amendments.

He expressed hope that the government would achieve consensus in Parliament over the issue of the Accountability Law as, he added, he enjoys a good level of understanding with opposition leaders on national issues.

When asked about the All Parties Conference (APC) on Balochistan, the premier said that he had directed federal law enforcing agencies to extend full cooperation to the provincial government as law and order was a provincial subject.

He said there were many factors and forces involved in destabilising the province, but added that foreign involvement could not be ruled out.

The prime minister said that an APC or a jirga could be convened on the request and recommendation of the Balochistan government and that consultations in this regard were ongoing.

“[On the request of the Balochistan government] I spoke to law enforcing agencies, the army chief, the Inter-Services Intelligence chief and other officials, to ensure that they would extend cooperation to the provincial government,” he said.

He added that the Balochistan government was satisfied with other issues, including royalty and share from the National Finance Commission Award, but it was still facing problems due to lack of trust shown by some Baloch leaders.

Prime Minister Gilani said that a joint session of Parliament would soon be held to review Pakistan’s relations with the US. “There is always friendship after a quarrel,” he said, adding that Pakistan hoped that its relations with the US would become stronger following the review process.

Gilani further said President Asif Ali Zardari, in a joint session of Parliament on March 17, would become the only president in the history of Pakistan to address the parliament for fifth straight time.

Responding to a question on the Mehran Bank case, the prime minister said “It should have been [reopened] earlier,” and that the government would take a decision in this regard after consulting coalition partners.

The premier said that he had sacked three ministers and many secretaries on the issue of accountability during his four-year tenure.

Gilani also hinted at the possibility of a reshuffle in the Federal Cabinet after the Senate elections. “I cannot rule out the possibility of change in the cabinet,” he said.

He said that the heads of government organisations which are running at a loss would be removed.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2012.