PM’s conviction: Aitzaz has no regrets for not filing appeal
Says 3-judge bench changed the verdict of 7-member bench which convicted Gilani of contempt.
ISLAMABAD:
A day after the apex court fired prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, his former attorney Aitzaz Ahsan defended his client’s decision to not appeal his conviction in a contempt case.
The appeal draft was ready – but the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party decided not to go into appeal, Ahsan told journalists outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“The court decided what the PPP feared. The seven-member bench did not disqualify him, but the three-member bench did. An appeal would have made no difference,” he added.
He said the seven-member bench, in its April 26 verdict, had said that a ‘question is likely to arise’ on Gilani’s disqualification, but it did not disqualify him.
“The bench said yesterday (Tuesday) that I should have filed an appeal against the verdict,” said Ahsan. “They also said that they cannot amend their decision, I say you have amended it – you did what the seven-member bench did not do.”
Ahsan said that he had prayed several times before the court that it should not take a decision against individuals, as it leaves no room for an appeal.
“If tomorrow, the court rules that I am no more a senator then it leaves no room for me to appeal. Hence, suo motu notices are not taken in cases in which the respondent cannot appeal.”
Ahsan went on to add that whoever is appointed as the PM will be issued a new order to write a letter to the Swiss authorities.
“My opinion has never changed. I have said this time and again that there is no harm in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities, but not writing is also not a crime,” Ahsan said, reiterating that until President Asif Ali Zardari was in power, a letter could not be written against him.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2012.
A day after the apex court fired prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, his former attorney Aitzaz Ahsan defended his client’s decision to not appeal his conviction in a contempt case.
The appeal draft was ready – but the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party decided not to go into appeal, Ahsan told journalists outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
“The court decided what the PPP feared. The seven-member bench did not disqualify him, but the three-member bench did. An appeal would have made no difference,” he added.
He said the seven-member bench, in its April 26 verdict, had said that a ‘question is likely to arise’ on Gilani’s disqualification, but it did not disqualify him.
“The bench said yesterday (Tuesday) that I should have filed an appeal against the verdict,” said Ahsan. “They also said that they cannot amend their decision, I say you have amended it – you did what the seven-member bench did not do.”
Ahsan said that he had prayed several times before the court that it should not take a decision against individuals, as it leaves no room for an appeal.
“If tomorrow, the court rules that I am no more a senator then it leaves no room for me to appeal. Hence, suo motu notices are not taken in cases in which the respondent cannot appeal.”
Ahsan went on to add that whoever is appointed as the PM will be issued a new order to write a letter to the Swiss authorities.
“My opinion has never changed. I have said this time and again that there is no harm in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities, but not writing is also not a crime,” Ahsan said, reiterating that until President Asif Ali Zardari was in power, a letter could not be written against him.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2012.