PM contempt: Raised objection according to Constitution, says Ahsan
Aitzaz says that he wanted to raise some more points to support his argument for a transparent trial for his client.
ISLAMABAD:
Reiterating his stance about presidential immunity, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, said on Wednesday that the objection he has raised in a contempt case against his client was according to the Constitution.
Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till Thursday.
Speaking to the media on the premises of the Supreme Court, he said that the parliament had the authority to make amends in the Constitution and that it could also reverse or change the court’s decision. However, he said that the government was not planning on doing so at the moment.
“This is not a matter concerning Asif Ali Zardari, this is a matter concerning the president of the country,” he said. “When Zardari’s presidential tenure will end, the court’s decision to write to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against Zardari should be implemented.”
Ahsan said that Zardari enjoyed presidential immunity and that the implementation of the court’s ordered is being delayed for the same reason.
During the hearing, Ahsan said that he will prove to the court that the contempt of court law is invalid.
Speaking before a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, Ahsan said that according to Article 10-A of the Constitution every citizen, including the premier, has a right to a transparent trial.
Ahsan said that granting him more time to carry forward his arguments was the Supreme Court’s “responsibility”. Gilani's counsel said that he wanted to raise more points to support his argument for a transparent trial for his client.
Justice Nasirul Mulk told Ahsan that this was not the time for raising objections.
Ahsan said that when the court had initiated the hearing, the premier’s name was not in the case. The court had then issued a notice to him and held him in contempt, giving him no margin to defend himself properly.
Reiterating his stance about presidential immunity, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, said on Wednesday that the objection he has raised in a contempt case against his client was according to the Constitution.
Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till Thursday.
Speaking to the media on the premises of the Supreme Court, he said that the parliament had the authority to make amends in the Constitution and that it could also reverse or change the court’s decision. However, he said that the government was not planning on doing so at the moment.
“This is not a matter concerning Asif Ali Zardari, this is a matter concerning the president of the country,” he said. “When Zardari’s presidential tenure will end, the court’s decision to write to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against Zardari should be implemented.”
Ahsan said that Zardari enjoyed presidential immunity and that the implementation of the court’s ordered is being delayed for the same reason.
During the hearing, Ahsan said that he will prove to the court that the contempt of court law is invalid.
Speaking before a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, Ahsan said that according to Article 10-A of the Constitution every citizen, including the premier, has a right to a transparent trial.
Ahsan said that granting him more time to carry forward his arguments was the Supreme Court’s “responsibility”. Gilani's counsel said that he wanted to raise more points to support his argument for a transparent trial for his client.
Justice Nasirul Mulk told Ahsan that this was not the time for raising objections.
Ahsan said that when the court had initiated the hearing, the premier’s name was not in the case. The court had then issued a notice to him and held him in contempt, giving him no margin to defend himself properly.