NRO implementation case: PM to appear before Supreme Court

Leaders of coalition parties to accompany the premier to the court on Monday.

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of coalition partners at the Presidency has decided that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will appear before the Supreme Court in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) judgment implementation case on Monday, Express News reported.

An official statement, in this regard, was issued by the presidency late Sunday night.

The meeting held on Sunday, presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari, was attended by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali, Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid’s (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senior leader Farooq Sattar, amongst others.

At the meeting Federal Minister of Law Farooq Naek briefed those present on the case proceedings. The meeting concluded that the premier will appear before the Supreme Court.

Leaders of coalition parties will also accompany Ashraf to the court.

Earlier in July, the Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice to Ashraf for not implementing its order of writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen a graft case against President Zardari.

The premier was asked to appear in person before a five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Khosa on August 27.

The SC had made it clear that Ashraf would face consequences if he failed to appear before the court on August 27 with a “positive statement” regarding its order in the case. However, promised to “accommodate” the premier if a commitment was given on the day he appears.