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Gilani contempt case Court to announce verdict at 1pm

Posted on: Thu February 02, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court concluded its hearing of the contempt case against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday and announced to pass the verdict in the case at 1pm, reported Express News.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, to further strengthen his argument in case, presented Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry"s earlier order which stated that the prime minister is obliged to take advice in all matters before taking any decision.

Ahsan had stressed in the last hearing that Gilani did not take the decision of not writing the letter to Swiss authorities himself, but was instead advised to take the step. During today"s hearing, Ahsan argued that following the chief justice"s earlier order, Gilani was supposed to seek advice from the Law Ministry and the Human Rights Division before taking any action, and the advice he received in the NRO implementation case was not in favour of the court"s decision. "In any civil or military issue, the government has to consult the Law, Justice and Human Rights Division," he remarked. "According to the Rules of Business 1973, the prime minister should have consultations before taking any decision." Justice Nasirul Mulk, heading the nine-member bench, remarked that the premier was efficient in listening to the Law Ministry and the Human Rights Division, but did not give due consideration to the court"s orders. "The prime minister has the right to turn down Law Ministry"s advice," Justice Athar pointed out. In a surprising revelation, Ahsan presented to the court a summary from September 23, 2010, which stated that there were no cases against the prime minister and the president in Switzerland. He told the court that the Swiss authorities wrote a letter to Pakistani authorities asking for evidence, in reply to which, the government assured them that all the cases were closed in the country owing to the NRO. The Swiss authorities closed the cases on lack of evidence, said Ahsan. The court expressed surprise over the summary and asked why it has never been presented in any of the previous hearings, adding that if the cases are closed, then why is the government afraid of writing the letter. The government should write the letter for our satisfaction, and then we will see what the Swiss authorities have to say in reply, the judicial bench maintained. Ahsan also questioned the court that if it can send notices to Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Gilani, then why it can"t initiate any action against the generals who were involved in arresting the judges. The court said that if Ahsan ensures that its order in the NRO implementation case is followed, then the contempt case will be closed; however, Ahsan did not provide assurances.

Courtesy : Tribune News