Zardari signs contempt of court amendment bill
The bill will provide immunity from contempt proceedings to high office holders, including the prime minister, president, chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers as well as governors.
It had earlier been passed by the National Assembly on Monday and the Senate on Wednesday.
The move is key given that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s reply is due on whether he would be following the court directives on writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and his late wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The cases had been closed earlier under the controversial NRO, which was struck down by the court as void ab initio in 2009.
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i think presidency should be mobed and he should be beaton to pulp in front of big pile of millions dollars
@Sahibzada Shabir: thats there family business my friend
usually he called a geniues of politics, honestly ive yet to see any single step of geniues out of this street bully who happened to be our presiedent i dont understand how low can he go or i am sure alziemers is back in him.....
What else is the corruption. It is the superlative degree of corruption.
Shame for President and PPP.
Alas! our rulers come from Jagirdari-landed-aristocracy,Sardari nizam, based on absolute dictatorship. The manner in which this hateful contempt of court Amendment bill has been framed, placed, passed and with unusual haste was signed by the president, all this 'show' gives foul smell of immoral contention. These short-sighted rulers seem do not know that Pakistan is a Federation, composed of two sets of government, Federal government and the provincial governments.Federal state always has a rigid constitution, and the three organs of the state have their powers with the assigned constitutional role and no organ of the state can dictate other. All disputes between different organs of the Federation are decided by the Supreme Court. and its decisions are regarded as final to be obey by all. The present rulers of 'NRO' roots know all this too well but are trying their best to delay their known destiny and prolong their stay in the seat of authority on whimsical ground, but how long they could play their negative game on wrong side of the slippery ground. They have to obey the Supreme Court decision.There is no other way out.
What a joke pakistani politcians are making of democracy,parliamentry system.democracy also means ppl elect to you to loot nations wealthand since one is an ''elected representative,he is above law.
@Mamoon: Because of theirs rule, Pakistan is still a federation. As you said single thing. Live with love-Let democracy work
Zardari of course is trying to save his own skin. Nothing will save him or anyone else. The law that he signed is ultra vires of the Pakistan Constitution.
Is the contempt of court less of a crime if committed by high officers than the one committed by poor or average citizens?
Seeing the conduct and arrogance of judiciary, such bill is required to save the people from wrath of Judges.
Demorcracy is the best revenge...
Make no mistake 25th July 2012 will be the D-day for PPP.
PPP government may be making tactical moves (Contempt Bill 2012) but SC knows how to rope the crooked. They are duty bound to nab the criminals and be rest assured they will do it.
Remember the words of Mr. Anwar Mansoor Khan, ex-Attorney General of Pakistan who parted ways on the letter issue and stated publicly that the letter to Swiss authorities will have to be written. He said "inko khath likhna hoga." Period.
Law will indeed take its due course. Let us wait for 25th July. Its Wednesday.
crisis after crisis in the national interest?????
The purpose of supreme court is not to uphold the law but to bring the PPP government down This is politics and PPP has no choice but to confront and bring this supreme court to its senses
Yes, This is what a democratic Party do. They are proud to call them selves Democrats.
I wish ET has a "Report Abuse" button for readers to deal with comments.....I was going to press it for derogatory comment by "Truth Teller"
As CJ can't be questioned whether he is working in the boundry of law or not ................ similarly President, PM etc
Tit for TAT
very quick action ....All other issues are pending.
Another step backwards. Do people of Pakistan really want to send out a message via this Law that it's OK for Pakistani politicians to swindle common man's money (or which was ment for the betterment of society/people/infrastructure) and not be questioned by any? Not even judiciary which is the keepers of the law of the land?!
Such laws will promote politicians to swindle even more money given by international institutions like IMF, World Bank, UN for people's benefit. Really a sorry day indeed.
It is a dark day in the history of Pakistan. Shame for PPP and other coalition parties voting for the bill.
@Jeffmahagaonvi: LOL.! GROW UP.! PLEASE.! Can you please tell me what single thing they have done for Pakistan in past 4 years...??
Did people vote for PPP in 2008 elections for such bills. Shame for federal government.
No fear of God and no fear of Law, that is Pakistan politics.
Shame for parlimenty and senate. Shame for PPP, MQM, ANP and PML(Q).
Well Done Mr President. This shows your true commitment and love towards Pakistan..Now you or any other "high office holders" can say or do anything against the judicial system and you will not be QUESTIONED..With this and many other amendments to the constitution, which I am sure you and your administration will bring about, you are surely saving Pakistan. This shows your commitment towards Pakistan that came into existence on the pillars of RESPECT, UNITY, PEACE, FAITH and above all EQUALITY. Who cares about Judiciary or Law. You are above the board. The times are gone when my beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) used to sit and eat with his people and was OPEN to question and Advise, when Ali (R.A), Usman (RA), Abu Bakr (RA) and all were accountable for any of their actions and even when Jinnah was fair in his administration. With this action of yours, you can never be questioned on anything now. I wish Jinnah, Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jauhar could actually come back and see what's happening in Pakistan, yes the "Pakistan" that they struggled so much for.
A step in the right direction. About time PCO judges be taught a lesson!
This PPP is making a Total MESS of Pakistan
So now there are two classes in Pakistan! One of the them is above the law. Let’s declare Monarchy.
It will be struck down very soon. No need to get excited.
Why all judgements against PPP? Good ordinance! Now what?
The whole legal system is for the poor? They called themselves Muslims, what a shame!
the amendment bill is simply for saving the politicians from judicial / lawful impositions.. NRO has to be scrapped .None can be immune from his/her unlawful activities.. Immunity is for the policies/decisions taken during the course of governance/ administration and not for the actions resulting in personal gains. You not only have to be honest but you must also look like to be honest. there can not be democracy if the judiciary is not independent.
Your move, CJ.
I am very disappointed. What are we doing to this country.
Higher the office, greater the perks!! Wow!
who is going to be the first one to benefit from this bill.
Black Day for Pakistan today.
Well done Mr. President. It is necessary that the government could function without unnecessary judicial obstruction. Live with love-Let democracy work
Well done sir. Please also issue an ordinance to close all the courts in the country as these courts are only giving punishment to poor.
And now the real duel between parliament and judiciary starts
Tit for tat, good way to teach a lesson.