Pakistani PM files appeal in contempt of court

Tampa Star (IANS) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order to summon him in a contempt of court case, a media report said.

The prime minister's counsel Aitzaz Ahsan filed the appeal in the apex court against the order summoning the Gilani Feb 13 to chargesheet him in the contempt of court case, Geo News reported.

Gilani had appeared before the Supreme Court Jan 19 in the contempt case for not acting against President Asif Ali Zardari for corruption and defended his move, saying that the constitution provided immunity to the president.

In Wednesday's appeal, Gilani pleaded the court to set aside its Feb 2 order as well as recall the contempt notice served on him for not implementing the court's order on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

Ahsan raised 54 points in the appeal that runs into over 200 pages.

The court had issued Gilani a contempt notice Jan 16.

The apex court had warned the government of action if its ruling on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), granting immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases, was not implemented by Jan 10, 2012.

The court had also sought reopening of cases closed under the NRO, struck down as void in 2009. It had ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen cases against the president.

Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty under the NRO which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Zardari.