The Contempt Court Bill, 2012, became a law on Thursday after President Asif Ali Zardari signed it. Per the new law, the prime minister, ministers and chief ministers will have cover against any aggression from the top court of the country. After the go-ahead by President Zardari, the bill became the part of the constitution in an apparent move vis-à-vis Supreme Court (SC) to save the new prime minister from disqualification in the footsteps of former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani. On Wednesday, the Upper House of parliament had adopted the Contempt of Court Bill, 2012, amid a strong protest by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The bill had already been passed by the National Assembly on Monday. The bill exempts prime minister, governors, chief ministers, federal ministers and state ministers from contempt proceedings over appropriate criticism. The bill has been challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while PPP stalwarts like Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Senator Raza Rabbani have said that the apex court could strike down the law.
President signs contempt of court bill into law
