NRO hearing: PM Ashraf given respite till September 18
PM Ashraf had requested the Supreme Court that he required at least four to six weeks in order to consult his legal team to resolve the issue.
Prime Minister Ashraf was directed by the Supreme Court to write a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The court earlier wanted to grant him two-week's time and adjourn the hearing till September 12, however, Ashraf informed the court that he will not be able to appear before the court that day due to his scheduled tour to China.
Heading a five-member bench, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed that according to Article 90 of the Constitution, the premier could exercise executive authority and task someone to implement the court's orders to write the Swiss letter.
He had earlier said that the Supreme Court can grant more time only if an encouraging commitment is provided.
Ashraf had said, "I am only a political worker not a lawyer, I need to understand the case in order to resolve it."
He had requested the court to withdraw the show-cause notice issued against him in the case and had said that it brings a bad name to the sovereignty of Pakistan.
The prime minister had said that he would be available on a "phone call" whenever the court wants to see him.
Justice Khosa had observed that appearing before the court is not respect, but complying with the court's orders is.
He had said that the issue was not as big as it was being made. PM Ashraf had said that he does not want to prolong the case, but only wants to resolve it.
The prime minister had said that the issue should be resolved in a way which does not harm the sanctity of the judiciary.
Ashraf had said that he was facing a lot of pressure as a prime minister to resolve the issue which has created a situation of ebullience in the country.
Justice Khosa had observed that Ashraf had not appeared before the court today as a defendant in the case. He had said that PM Ashraf was as respectful as any other citizen of Pakistan.
Ashraf had said that it is an honour for him to appear before the court just after he took charge as the prime minister.
Earlier, while speaking to the media, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira had said that Prime Minister ’s presence in the court today will prove all those people wrong who accuse the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of not complying with the court’s orders.
Kaira had said that the party was expecting justice and betterment from the Supreme Court today.
He had said that the PPP has obeyed court’s orders whenever summons are issued for its prime ministers.
Replying to a question regarding delay in taking decision about PM Ashraf coming to the court, the minister had said that there was no delay in taking the decision and that the PPP believes in discussing issues with its members as it is a democratic party.
Security had been beefed up under the supervision of Interior Minister Rehman Malik within and outside the premises of the Supreme Court with Rangers, police among other Law Enforcement Agencies deployed.
Red zone was also sealed from 7am to 11am, while aerial monitoring was also being done with two helicopters.
Only those who had special passes were allowed to enter the court’s premises.
Walk-through gates had been installed on the premises of the Supreme Court. The parking lot was also vacated and all extra cars parked there were taken out.
Attorney General Irfan Qadir had said that one of the two most important elements of the state -- the prime minister -- has appeared before the court showing his respect for the judiciary.
Qadir had said that he hoped that the "judiciary also reciprocates the respect."
COMMENTS (47)
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@Mubashir:
The superior judiciary is a country’s most honourable institution
really ???
Why is the Judiciary allowing this "Musical Chair" game when it knows who is corrupt, who has illegally stolen Pakistan's assets and who should be thrown into jails until all the stolen money and resources hidden under multiple other account names are brought back into Pakistan. Waiting until these people leave to be never caught has gone on too long.
Daily drama episode between supreme court and corrupt elected coalition government..
Now its clear that religious and political leaders can easily fool the masses where judiciary can make fool to even educated people .
CJ u r a great judge I Salute you but please let it go, its just 6 months remaining for god Sake
its simply waste of time...and a good entertainment for our people and a great breaking news for our media...
he is buying time.
18 September is still too early but at least way better than the daily hearing Supreme Court was fond of in Gilanis case. Looks like the charms of Faisal Raza Abidi are paying off.
CJ, please ask Imran Khan to write the letter ;)
judiciary is playing in the hands of Nawaz sharif the leader of a dying party Mr chaudhry has attached his future with Nawaz league He has no choice because once out of office the corruption of his family will be out in the open Only a person with no respect for his country can insist on useless revenge acts
That is a interested drama, which has no drop scene . a new part was begun,ended today with more time, a new episode is expected on 18 next month.
Date of retirement is a head,date of ending the mandate is also upcoming. They were playing and now have played,people secured in form of corruption, inflation,power shortfall,unemployment,social injustice and and increasing poverty.
What they gained? huge pension,large and wide with smiling title foreign accounts.
Once again,people of the country,waiting their returning having in hand a vote,not for them for third party named Tsunami .
it should be stopped now !!! this furious cycle should Finnish now.
If you can not win, don't throw the first punch......the credibility of the judiciary is fast eroding.
Its hilarious. Is this tour really nessasarry for Pakistan PM to go on. Its been a long time that my ears are Tremendously filled up with this NRO and PM.
A derailed justice system, politicised by the Chief Injustice. The courts have failed to their duty. They are just interested to be in the news and under the spot light.
SC rented time to raja Rental.
Lucky you MR. PM, this country's top court has history of sending elected PMs to Jail, out of country, and even hang them, the 'bloody civilians'. You are survived for few weeks by the law courts who are not accountable to anyone. What this would be called 'RELIEF' to present government, without comproming the unwritten law that SC has created for putting the incumbent President on trial out of country.
Best Wishes untill September 8.
unfounded and unproved allegations
@Maher:
@Omar:
happy birthday, in advance
Well at least the courts now have time to listen to thousands of cases of poor awam.
Well done Raja Pervez Ashraf, long live parliament
Raja Pervez Ashraf displayed wisdom and cleverness by leaving contray which Yousaf Raza Gillani didn't show and this is much the best,excellent and august move and delaying tactic to get time from the Supreme Court to take the first step towards the completion of PPP's government's tenure.......
My question from all is that just by righting the letter will bring the 60 million dollars back? Asif Ali Zardari has spent 8 years in jail and no case against him was proved and now he is President of the country and you will prove cases against him.
The issue is no more a legal one it is now political.
That day is my birthday, interesting
@Maher: Delaying tactics by supreme court too. They also want to prolong this case as they now can't affort to disqualify another PM.
TOPI DRAMA.. Viewers/Audience PAKISTAN NATION... Ending with Drama.... Time Wastage... Ultimate Result is Damage to Country... What a fool nation and Clever rulers...
@freeman: what kind of hopes you have from courts, when you cannot defeat PPP in elections you try to find out other ways to topple PPP Govt.
PPP has another victory From now on courts decisions will be irrelevant The judges should not muddle in politics. They can not run a country , only politicians can do and that's why people choose them
Why can't you postpone it till 18 Sep 2013, Mr. CJP!!! Ain't there anything else to do in supreme court?
Justice delayed is justice denied. These guys deserve no more flexibility. Why is SC giving them chance, we know Zardari doesn't wanna come to court of law even after his tenure is over.
Raja Sahib is a well groomed political worker. In my reckoning he is doing better than Gilani. I think he will be able to handle the case more prudently (politically and legally).
@Yousuf Raza Gillani
You should learn from Raja Rental how to handle (fool) our intelligent judiciary. Raja will also not write letter to Swiss for sure but he will use delay tactics till next election.
Supreme Court should ensure that it's decisions are enforced.People are getting confused and disappointed
So the disco dance of judiciary goes on
Sorry but the courts too have started marking time and keeping the nation and its fate on the tanter hooks. no hopes even from the supreme court.
Democracy Zindabad, PPP's stance is correct in this case
The Supreme Court has started showing sanity!
Prime minister should not write letter to supreme court since president has immunity and if Pakistan going to allow foreigners to try our sitting president, then don't expect others not to demand questions our executives on other issues.. THINK ABOUT IT.
Supreme Court please stop beating around the bush... the whole country is in the middle of a drama waiting for the drop scene that keeps on pending and pending like a soap opera... Please finish it asap so people and country can move on and atleast try to sort the real issues of poverty, corruption, electricity and ECONOMY.
Just delaying tactics by Raja Rental. We remember you gave June, 2008 & than 31st December 2008's date to eliminate load-shading.
ebullience!?!!??!!? :S ET please use simple english. Thank you
Mr. Ashraf is only killing the time as from 4 to 6 weeks from now swiss cases cannot be reopened as per swiss govt's policy for the cases more than 10 years old.
Good POLITICAL move by PM