Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is guilty of contempt for refusing to obey an order to write to the authorities in Switzerland to ask them to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
In a symbolic sentence for the Pakistan Premier, Gilani has been sentenced for ’30 seconds’. He was convicted for violating Article 63(1) (g) of the Constitution, but escaped jail term.
Talking to Geo News, Gilani termed the verdict as inappropriate.
Gilani appeared in person in the SC for the third time to hear the verdict in the contempt of court case.
The PM smiled and waved to his supporters as he stepped out of the court premises, reported Geo News.
Security was tight as the Premier arrived at the court. Interior Minister Rehman Malik had earlier urged the Pakistan People’s Party activists not to come to the court’s premises.
A seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had on Tuesday reserved its judgement in the contempt case initiated against the Pakistan Prime Minister for failing to act on the top court’s directives to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The Pakistan Premier said that he was satisfied with his counsel Aitzaz Ahsan’s input in the proceedings of the case. Gilani also said that he was satisfied with Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir’s input.
“We respect the court and we will go. We should not react; whoever wants to accompany me during the hearing is most welcome,” he said on Wednesday.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had asked Gilani’s counsel to ensure that the Premier is present in court when the verdict is announced on Thursday.
The Supreme Court has been pressuring the government to revive cases of alleged money laundering against Zardari in Switzerland since December 2009, when it struck down a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
Gilani has refused to act, saying the President enjoys immunity within Pakistan and abroad. The Pakistan Prime Minister appeared in the apex court twice before and decided to fight the case.
Even after he was formally charged with contempt of court on February 13, Gilani insisted that he would rather be jailed than approach the Swiss authorities to reopen the cases against the President.
The Premier has said throughout the proceedings in the apex court that he had done nothing against the government’s rules of business.
–PTI