Yousuf Raza Gilani
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday resumed the contempt of court hearing against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, DawnNews reported.

A seven-judge bench of the court, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, was hearing the case.

During the hearing, the premier's counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, said that the prime minister only followed procedure and implemented the summaries presented to him.

If the summaries did not provide the premier with the 'right' input, then he cannot be held responsible for committing contempt of court by not writing to Swiss authorities.

Ahsan moreover said that writing the letter would demean the office of the president.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that not implementing court judgments was akin to committing contempt of court.

Moreover, Justice Nasirul Mulk remarked that the prime minister had already given a statement before the court which was why the court could no longer review its decision of charging him with contempt.

Yousuf Raza Gilani was charged with contempt of court on Feb 13 over the government’s two-year refusal to write to authorities in Switzerland asking them to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.