Pakistan PM faces contempt charges

Pakistan: Pakistan's supreme court Thursday summoned PM Yousaf Raza Gilani to appear before it on February 13 to frame contempt charges against him for defying its orders to write to Swiss authorities to reopen a graft case against president Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani told parliament later that he respects the court and will honour its request for a second appearance.

The court's order has ramped political crisis in the country, as Gilani could lose his job and face six months in prison if convicted. But the PM could avoid being charged by appealing against the order , apologizing or promising to write to the Swiss.

“After the preliminary hearing, we are satisfied prima facie that there is enough case for further proceedings. The case is adjourned until February 13 for the formal framing of charges. The PM will be present in person,” said justice Nasir ul Mulk, who heads the seven-judge bench hearing the case.

Gilani's lawyer, Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan, told the court that the country's law ministry had advised him against writing to the Swiss. On this, justice Mulk remarked that the premier was efficient in listening, but did not give due consideration to the court's orders. “The PM has the right to turn down law ministry's advice,” another judge pointed out.

Ahsan argued that the Swiss were told that the case against Zardari was closed after the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) that granted amnesty from graft cases to politicians as part of a deal between former PM Benazir Bhutto and military ruler Pervez Musharraf. “The Swiss authorities closed the cases on lack of evidence.'’

The lawyer presented a summary of the Swiss response to the government in September 2010, which stated that there were no cases against the president there. The court questioned why the summary has never been presented in any of the previous hearings. “If the cases are closed, then why the government is afraid of writing the letter,” the court asked.

“The government should write the letter for our satisfaction and then we will see what the Swiss authorities have to say in reply.'’

Since 2009, theSC has been insisting the government write to the Swiss about reopening of the case president Zardari after it threw out NRO. But the government has been defying its orders, claiming that the president enjoyed immunity from prosecution. Times of India