A three-member bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, ordered Attorney General Irfan Qadir to get in touch with Ashraf and inform the court about Ashraf’s stance.
The court had already issued an order when a contempt of court case was underway against former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, in which it was told to disregard the summary made by the Law Ministry and write a letter to the Swiss authorities to open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The federal government had asked the court to not implement the order yet as Gilani’s case was underway.
Justice Mulk asked National Accountability Bureau (NAB) how former prime minister Gilani, who appointed Adnan A Khawaja as chairperson Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), was not aware that Khawaja was a convicted person.
Justice Khosa observed that Gilani and Khwaja had also spent some time in jail together then how NAB could say that Gilani was not aware about this aspect of Khawaja.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed NAB to hold inquiry to fix responsibility for appointing a convicted person (NRO beneficiary) as chairman OGDCL.
An application was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday praying that contempt proceedings against the incumbent prime minister Raja Parvaiz Ashraf be initiated for giving a statement that he will not write a letter to the Swiss authorities.
COMMENTS (67)
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Haha, I have to laugh at the people who are attacking the CJ by referring to editorials 'all over the world' - who cares about editorials all over the world? How can any non-Pakistani media outlet have a better idea and anlysis of the situation than our own ones? Honestly, this kind of instinctive reverence for anything foreign is what lies at the very core of our national dysfunction.
In the same way, the AG should be beaten black and blue for having the nerve to cite the words of a Hindustani judge in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Why in the world would we want to look to one of the world's most poverty-stricken, caste-obsessed, religiously divisive countries to see how they mete out their definition of 'justice'? The idiots on this board who suggested something similar should promptly make their visa application to Hindustan to see exactly how swift the justice there really is. Honestly, sickening.
I agree that the CJ has his own skeletons in his cupboard, but for those of you who are so upset at the idea of the PM writing this letter, could you kindly explain your opposition? This is a letter asking the Swiss courts to re-open cases of corruption against Zardari - are you against that? If he isn't guilty, why should it be such an issue writing the letter?
Hasan
What is the remedy in the constitution if a sitting judge goes oh-lalah?
@Rana Amjad: Do you belive that Pakistan has a good name for anyone or any nation in the World? So don't worry about BAD name... just try to improve Pakistans name!
Dismissing one Prime Minister after another will fray the governance in Pakistan beyond repair. The Chief Justice should write directly to the authorities in Switzerland if he is really serious about it.
Anti PPP establishment, some people in Judiciary and media are in nexus to malign PPP and weaken democracy to boost their hegmony over Pakistan. They should be defeated once for all, if we want to save Pakistan.
Thanks to SC for this chaos and providing new life to PPP. After Sindh and Saraki areas PPP will also emerge in Pothohar areas. Leaving central Punjab for PML(N), but there too, another spoiler is waiting to spoil any chance of PML(N).
Protection to President, Governor, Minister, etc. (1) The President, a Governor, the Prime Minister, a Federal Minister, a Minister of State, the Chief Minister and a Provincial Minister shall not he answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices or for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions:
Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as restricting the right of any person to bring appropriate proceedings against the Federation or a Province.
(2) No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any court during his term of office. (3) No process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President or a Governor shall issue from any court during his term of office.
http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part12.ch4.html
who is getting benefit out of this??? who is at loss???
@T Khan: Well whoever brought that must be Crazy and you too sound crazy.
@M. R@fique Zakaria: @Riaz Khan: Why CJ should stop, Riaz Khan? Are you Raja Rental’s Nephew?
On the other hand, are you CJ's son?
Usman, What about numerous skeletons hiding in honorable CJ closet?
Brace yourselves, another round of mindless political bashing is on its way.
I think. PM should say i will write. The issue is then the delivery. Let the PM send the letter to Swiss by a camel cart driver to be handelivered.
Army should not interfere. Let them tear apart each other.
This will not stop until Zardari steps down and new elections are held under an independent ECP are held within 90 days. This gov't is a farce who will achieve nothing in the next few months but build some helipads for each new PM every month while filling their pockets as much as they can during this time.
Asif Zardari testing loyalties of his cult,but does he have any for this country
@Nand: "With the rotation of several PM before next year’s elections, 3-4 of them will have their own helipads." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I think all ex PMs should also be gifted a helicopter each. Its so embarrassing to have a helipad and no helicopter.
@ALi: Dear Ali he is not prime minister he is just rented for few weeks.
@Riaz Khan: Why CJ should stop, Riaz Khan? Are you Raja Rental's Nephew?
This is no longer funny. SC must stop meddling in politics. Looks like they are intoxicated with power. Newspapers the world over were scathing on the SC's aggressive behaviour and they are totally right.
@Majid Khan: why dont these other countries treat there on judiciary the same way....
Mr. CJ, if present PM is also sent home by you than what Nehru said that he does not change so many dhottis as many PMs are changed in PK will fully confirm his statement besides it will bring bad name to Pakistan.
Zardari to protect himself the whole party is ready to go down. Why then they dont stop saying "pakistan people's party" why dont they say "zardari people's party"
What a joke and waste of money - why does the CJ not get of his backside and write the letter himself - Pakistan does not have money to waste by appointing a new PM every few days
what a madness...
cant wait for this incompetent PM to leave
We have get rid of these PCO Judges, they want to divide this nation, Constituion is supreme not the judges, If Cheaf justice want to rule he has to take part in election, let the people decide ...
The CJ is making a mockery of the elected representatives. Pakistan will pay dearly for this. He should learn a word or two from the Indian Judge who wrote a couple of days back, asking him to stay in constitutional limits.
@Riaz Khan: Stop what? Stop enforcing the law of the land? Is there a time limit that law must be followed only at certain times and not other times?
Premier reply is the line on the stone as it is the President who will pull the strings here and Ashraf is mere a puppet. And they have a new deputy PM as a contingency plan. Another political martyrdom in making?
The situation can be described in two ways. 1. A vicious circle. SC demands-PM declines-SC tries and sentences PM for contempt-SC disqualifies PM-Zardari appoints new PM-SC demands. Circle is complete. 2. An irresistible force (SC) meets an impenetrable barrier (PM) Take your choice!
i really dont understan why they cannot write a letter, maybe i am too naive to not know the reason.
@Mohd Jayman: Seems you are unaware of the suffering of 180 million people! Maybe divine intervention to relay this info to you? But, since you read the news on the net, you must be educated enough for me to presume that you are aware of what democracy has brought us. In my opinion, a thousand military regimes would be better than corrupt sham democracy. And dont worry, people will soon do their own justice.
Wait & Watch Raja Rental !! You are NEXT !
@Qasim: "There we go again. Next hopefuls, please have your sherwanees ready for oath taking" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And keep away from epheremedine or whatever that is:)
CJP and Supreme Court are going beyond their authority. Even editorials in other countries say his behavior is dictatorial and must be stopped.
So from July 12th he can claim all protocoles & perks of a Ex PM. Very lucky guy
Before July 12 let us also have a verdict on the Arsalan case too.
I think its a shame for us in Pkaistan and abroad that our PM has corruption charges in Rental scam first in the history of democracy and now he has been called for NRO and he will be slaughtered in SC slaughter house inshallah.But i dont understand why this nation is closing thier eyes and keeping quiet on all these matters either its NRO,Load shedding,Food prices,Fuel prices.I suspect if revolution will not start in pakistan now it will end up in pieces which this colation government is trying to do on double payrole of west.Our leaders are Mir Sadiq and Mir Jaffar of present time which is very very dangerous for pakistani federation.
This rental PM will not write the letter in any case.
Why SC is playing games? Why dont they write the letter themselves?
Mr. Prime Minister, hope you know that Section 248(2) of the Pakistan Constitution states: “No criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or Governor in any Court during his term of office.” Writing a letter will be its violation and history will always remember you as a traitor/violator of constitution. We are with you, please don't get or feel bullied.
The present Crime Minister is a servant, who will act in accordance with his master advice and not as Honourable SC orders.
SC is overreacting and should be stopped. Already all the editorials wrote against CJ disqualifiying Gilani..
CJ record is himself less than perfect and with his family partying in casinos in europe is definitely no less proof that he bathes in same hamaam.
Ours is a strange nation that vehemently opposes everyone in power or is riding some popularity. It is the mindset of its ppl that country is beig pulled down.
The democratic process should be allowed to continue. That alone will one day salvage our country.
@ Zulfiqar,
We know answer will be same, but then he will not be able to complaint on media and in public.
prime minister should know who really rules the country Time for a presidential decree to abolish contempt of court laws made by Musharaf
sword is out of sheath now.
There we go again. Next hopefuls, please have your sherwanees ready for oath taking.
For heaven sake please stop honorable CJ!
Mr.Ashraf has to decide either he wants to hold his London's property and be with thug group or write a letter to swiss authorities for new Pakistan.
Why give him so much time?? Get rid of him ASAP. Or he should write the letter.
It will be really awesome if this keeps happening, every month we get a new PM and at the end of the month he gets disqualified, until elections next year. Who is with me?
Oh that's not fair, let him sort out the energy crisis. Someone always gives him a boot and he is unable to show his capabilities. He is about to get a helipad made at his private residence and the court has already started bothering him. He must be allowed to enjoy all the perks, else its unfair to Raja Jeee!!! :)
The sequel follows the Movie +++++++++++++++++++++=+
We watch with interest the end game.
I must admit.......Maulana Fazl was right:" Get rid of PCO 2 and PCO 1 judges and start afresh" CJP has gone berserk....
And his answer would be, "i can't write in english and they don't understand urdu". Thus, what's the use!
@dv sikka: Well said. Just because PPP apologists have decided to portray themselves as 'victims' and 'martyrs' doesn't mean the general public is fooled. We know there is only one institution that is protecting citizen's rights and that's the Supreme Court.
NAB, PAC, ECP and Police should follow the SC's example. It's about time Pakistan's civilian institutions started functioning properly.
He will Not write letter ...
'Do or Die" or perhaps more like "who's next?" What a drama!
He will say he will finish writing by December.
By 30th July the PM will go back to Gujar Khan once for all for saving the Alexander of 2012 who by chance is President of Pakistan.
Did any body said Rented PPP?
With the rotation of several PM before next year's elections, 3-4 of them will have their own helipads. Welll done chaps!
Enjoy the PM slot for 2 weeks buddy, enough days granted by SC.
Very fair decision. 15 days time has been given to him to submit reply. If he also defies the court decision, logically he may meet the same fate as his predecessor.
An acidtest for the new PM. Does he care for Pakistan's honour.