President has immunity, why write the letter?

By
Hussain
-
34
167

Appearing in the Supreme Court in response to a show-cause notice issued to him to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for failing to write a letter to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani argued on Thursday that he did not write the letter because the president enjoyed complete immunity, not only in Pakistan but also in the world as enunciated by the constitution.
A special bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed heard the case.
Gilani became the second elected prime minister of Pakistan to appear in court on contempt charges. While it was being speculated that Gilani might opt to apologise for not obeying the court orders, he decided to contest the charge. However, he said he held the judiciary in high esteem and he was duty-bound to appear before the court.
“I have come today to show my respect to this court,” Gilani told the seven judges in the packed court room. The prime minister stated that the president enjoyed complete immunity from prosecution even under the 18th Amendment, adding that a president elected with a two-thirds majority could not be handed over to the foreign courts.
“It will not give a good message to proceed against a president who is elected by a two-thirds majority. There is complete immunity for heads of state everywhere,” Gilani said.
Recalling the days he spent in jail and making a point that he faced courts in the past but never disrespected them, the prime minister said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders always respected and honoured the courts and complied with their orders. He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto also appeared in courts during their lifetimes, which indicated their respect for the courts. He said the presence of leaders of coalition partners in the court was reflective of their respect for the judiciary as well.
He said he and his party leaders had highest respect for the judiciary and he could not even think of committing contempt of court or ridiculing court orders. He said he appeared in person to comply with the court orders that indicated his respect and honour for the court. “We respect the courts… my intention is to respect the constitution and my associates also respect the constitution. I decided to appear before the court immediately after getting the notice,” he added.
Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa appreciated the presence of the prime minister in the court and said it indicated there was rule of law as the chief executive of the country had appeared in court.

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34 COMMENTS

    • u hv posted stupid comments. every constitution gives immunity to symbols of federration like President, governors and Chief Justice. This s meant to keep the govt business smooth, so that no litigant cud disrupt the business of a democratic state.

  7. ALLAH grants no immunity to anyone. Everyone is equal in his eyes. The Law should reflect that fact and act accordingly.

    • If everyone is equal…then who are these judges to punish another person..! ALSO how these judged issue contempt of court to Babar Awan…Are these sacred cows that no body can comment on them….don't use religion to score a point against political opponents

  9. Well Done GIllani sb; You have shown the world once again that you are a two-faced coward who can go back on his own statements any time.

  10. Writers of above comments r sick-minded people. They r shameless anti-democracy and peons of military

      • it s u who is brainwashed by anti-democracy, anti-liberty rightists elements and anchors siting in fascist media. Guy, I m not brainwashed coz I m supporting democracy. U r coz u r victim of propagenda unleashed by power-hungry politicians and media anchors who want to snatch power thru unconstitutional means and misinterpretation of constitution.

  11. GEO AIREY PRIME MINISTER SAHEB.SAANCH KO AANCH NAHI.ISSI KHUSHI MEIAN I MAY BE ORDERED TO BE RE-INSTATED IN P.I.A AS MY CASE FOR RE-INSTATEMENT IS LYING PENDING IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,ISLAMABAD.I CAN BE CONTACTED ON CELL.03004021667 MAKE SURE NOTHING WILL BE DONE AGAISNT YOU AND WILL BE FREED WITH RESPECT.

  14. this is right `INSAF IS BLIND AND IS EFFECTIVE FOR POORS AND WHO HAVE NO MONEY.WELL DONE ON STATE`S EXPENSES.THAT IS THE DEMOCRACY FOR WHICH THEY ARE CRYING AND ULTIMATELTY THE POOR WILL SUFFER.WELL DONE NO ELECTRICITY,NO WATER ,NO GAS.PEOPLE CRY CRUSH THEM.HAY SHAH BASH CHAMPIONS OF SO-CALLED DEMOCRACY.

    • No gas, no light. This is due to unmindful policies of military dictator. Guy, energy policy is formulated 10-15 years in advance. This s not question of 3-4 years. What did Musharad did in case of energy is evident now in gas and power shortage. Were he a wise guy, he cud formulate energy policy during his era.

  15. SANITY PREVAILS. The pseudo commentators cum legal minds should now revisit their thoughts who are in hurry to send this Govt. back home. Their day dreams I am sure will not fulfill.

    • he is only your PM , i mean to say haj scandle , NICL beneficiries and rental looters. He is not pakisatani PM . he is only zaradari and PPP PM . PPP never in history has risen from its party level and it comes to power only to benefit ppp.

  17. Supreme Court of Pakistan waited for more than 2 years to hear from PM Gilani that he did not write letter to Swiss Courts because President Asif Ali Zardi has immunity. This statement of PM Gilani raises questions of competency of Supreme Court of Pakistan and its judges.

    M. R@fique Zakaria
    Karachi

    • the competency of these judges is known…they are partial..and are on a vendetta against elected government…at the signal from you know who…:-)

  20. Poor Kamran Khan will have to wait again till 1 FEB. i hope he will survive these days. His patience is being tested to limits. i will advise him to go to SC and beg from judges that i can not take it any more and i have fed up with dreaming in my programmes and by talking endlessly for sending this government home but every time i see any hope of my dreams and wishes being come true you people again give a new date.

  21. Some Islamic republic this is. There is nothing Islamic about Pakistan. Hence the azaab from the Almighty….

  22. At the time when country is passing through worst energy and power crises majority of population is find hard to provide daily necessites of lives to their families instead of providing relief to suffring people selfish politisions are wasting their energies on no issues which is very unfortunate

  23. Prime Minister Gilani appeared gracefully. This was quite a contrast when we compare it with the appearance of Nawaz Sharif in 1997. In 1997, his party ransacked Supreme Court.
    This time again, lawyers belonging to PML-N created nasty scenes. Shame!!!

  24. IS PRIME MINISTER SUPREME COURT-18JUDGES-CJP TOP DECIDE ON LEGAL-CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.ZARDARI-GALANI THINK EVERY INSTITUTION,JUDFICVIARY,EXECUTIVE,ARMED FORCES,BUREACRACY AS THEIR 'LONDI'.THEY ACT AS DIVINE KING.SCP-CJP HAS BEEN TOO ACCOMDATING FOR 4 YEARS TO THEM,MQM AND NOW IMRAN IN THEIR VERDICTYS WHICH HAS BEEN ABUSED BY THEM TO RUIN COUNTRYU,ECONOMY,NRO WEALTH,NOW AITZAZ DEFENDS THE ENEMIES OF POOR.

  25. ONLY he Beeives it AND HIS guri ZARdari or mqm,anp,choudries.theY WanT to saVE tHEIR KURSI and haram kharboen rupees.

  26. President has immunity only in case if he make any mistake in his official work and it does not means that he has immunity in all corruption cases. Zardari has to be fired from his seat without any dealy. If Gillani is supporing the corruption himself and for Zardari, then he is GADAR-E-PAKISTAN and he should hanged openly. ANP,MQM,Qaf League are also the part of Gadar-e-Pakistan and these 3 parties should be banned for next 50 years.

  27. All Bhutto family members assume they are immune to all sorts of crimes-moral as well as criminal. Ya! Meer Murtza Bhutto murdered an important civil servant at Kabul Airport and publicly admitted it. And ??????. Why!

    Mr ten percent laundered billions and stacked it all over the world and is claiming immunity- what a farce? Has sanity gone out of the window of Pakistani Leaders?
    "
    The Devil is most devilish when respectable." ( Elizbeth Browning)

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