Contempt case: Gilani commends Aitzaz's role, pays Rs100 fees

"It is a tribute to Aitzaz's character and wisdom that he stood firm in his arguments, within and outside the...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, along with a letter of commendation, gave a Rs100 cheque as fees to senator Aitzaz Ahsan for services as his lawyer.

The prime minister, in his letter said, “In representing me, senator Aitzaz Ahsan was in fact upholding and defending the principle of supremacy of the constitution which was no small matter, especially in the face of adverse propaganda by some political entities and relentless bias by a section of the media.”

Gilani further added that it was a tribute to the senator's character and wisdom that he stood firm in his arguments, within and outside the court room.

“Your services to the cause of constitutional rule will be remembered,” he said.

The prime minister recalled that they had been together in their struggle for democracy.

“We have been through adverse circumstances in pursuit of our principles," he said, adding, “Two of our great leaders laid down their lives in the struggle for democracy and I am sure that our sufferings will not go in vain.”

In his letter, Gilani also referred to Aitzaz Ahsan’s book titled Divided by Democracy in which he wrote that in the political history of Pakistan not once has the judiciary “invalidated the incumbent regime of a military adventurer”, hoping that someday this would prove to be untrue.

“At the end of the day, the people of Pakistan judge the performance of their government and this right of theirs, expressed through their elected representatives in the parliament, cannot be taken away – should not be allowed to be taken away – from them.”