PM contempt: Ahsan presents UN report supporting presidential immunity

Ahsan says he will try to comple­te his argume­nts on Articl­e 10-A of the Consti­tution, today.


Web Desk April 19, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan resumed the contempt case hearing against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday.

The premier’s counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan presented the United Nations’ report titled "Preliminary report on immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction" to support his argument on presidential immunity.

Ahsan said that he will try to complete his arguments on Article 10-A of the Constitution by today.

Speaking before a seven-member bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, Ahsan cited international laws of presidential immunity. He cited one incident when Belgium had issued arrest warrants for Congo’s foreign minister and the government of Congo had refused to present him before the Belgian magistrate.

Ahsan said that not only the president, but the foreign minister also enjoyed immunity.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that once an international magistrate had summoned the Sudanese president and issued arrest warrants for him.

In his defense, Ahsan said that this was an exception and in cases of war crimes, presidents can be summoned by international courts.

COMMENTS (32)

Jamshed | 11 years ago | Reply

And this man used to sing "riasat ho gee maa kay jaisee"

I wonder what that makes him now. Shameless man.

Syed Hamid Ahmed | 11 years ago | Reply

"His client is convicted by national court what has this to do with the United Nations." His client being Gilani or Zardari, what national court have convicted any of two? This reflects what is called power of MISINFORMATION, Pakistani TV will lie so much that everything will "feel" like true and most of the good people who have posted negative remarks about Aitzaz, Gilani or Zardari are greatly misinformed, Zardari and Gilani were put in jails on false charges by Generals both Zia (despicable) and Musharraf, by PMl-N of Sharff's of Lahore, supported by courts, none was convicted of any crime and this was when they were in jails, so the talk of manipulating witness/prosecution does not apply. Only one courageous person Mian Mansha of NAB (Ehtsab) had the moral courage to offer apology Victimization of PPP has to end and please verify what is being said in Geo TV etc. I used to pay to watch GeoTV once, now if someone offer me for free I wont watch it, for sheer lies. Jang used to be my favorite newspaper while in university, not anymore.

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