Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court of Pakistan. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: During Thursday’s hearing of the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, his counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, said the United Nations, in one of its reports, had granted immunity to heads of state from prosecution in a foreign country, DawnNews reported.

Ahsan also produced the report before the Supreme Court’s seven-judge bench, headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, to support his argument on presidential immunity.

He further said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had also stopped courts from trying heads of state in the past.

Ahsan said that the heads of state of Congo and Djibouti also benefited from the immunity granted to heads of state under international laws.

Concluding his arguments on presidential immunity, Ahsan said he would address the charge levelled against the premier and would prove to the bench that Yousuf Raza Gilani did not commit contempt of court.

Earlier during Wednesday’s hearing, Ahsan said heads of state enjoyed immunity from prosecution in criminal and civil cases in courts the world over.

On Wednesday, he had also concluded his arguments with respect to Article 10-A of the Constitution.

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

Rinse and repeat
07 Jun, 2023

Rinse and repeat

PAKISTAN’S Groundhog Day politics continue without missing a beat. Despite the same pattern having persisted for...
Reimagining airports
07 Jun, 2023

Reimagining airports

AIRPORTS across the world have transformed themselves. No longer are they mere hubs for air travel; they now offer...
Transgender healthcare
07 Jun, 2023

Transgender healthcare

OUR social and political structures have sent the transgender population to Coventry. Anathema and misconception ...
Populist budget?
Updated 06 Jun, 2023

Populist budget?

The upcoming budget will be more a test of the govt's resolve to stay the course and restructure the economy.
Odisha disaster
06 Jun, 2023

Odisha disaster

THE horrific train crash in India’s eastern state of Odisha should prompt authorities across the subcontinent to...
Hockey revival
06 Jun, 2023

Hockey revival

FOR the last decade, Pakistan hockey has been searching for that turning point where its misfortunes are reversed....