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SC says write letter, 'save PM'; Aitzaz says 'no thanks'

Dunya News

SC promised Thursday to drop contempt charges if PM Gilani writes Swiss letter.

The Supreme Court promised that contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani woild be dropped if he obeys an order asking Switzerland to re-open corruption cases against President Zardari.The Supreme Court has summoned the embattled Gilani to appear next Monday to face indictment over the governments two-year refusal to ask Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases against President Zardari.On Thursday, the court heard an appeal from Gilani, but only hardened its standoff with the weak government that could yet see Gilani convicted for contempt of court, facing disqualification from office and six months in jail.After more than six hours in court, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry adjourned the appeal, telling the prime ministers lawyer to conclude his arguments by 10:30 am (0530 GMT) on Friday.But the eight-judge bench insisted that the government obey its order in 2009 to re-open corruption cases and write to authorities in Switzerland.Zardari and his late wife, prime minister Benazir Bhutto, were suspected of using Swiss bank accounts to launder about $12 million in alleged bribes paid by companies seeking customs inspection contracts in Pakistan in the 1990s.The prime minister should write the letter -- we will pass the order, the Chief Justice told the court earlier in reference to the court dropping its summons order for Gilani to face indictment for contempt on Monday.The Swiss shelved the cases in 2008, when Zardari became head of state, and a prosecutor in Switzerland has said it will be impossible to re-open them as long as he remains head of state and is immune from prosecution.In Pakistan the courts overturned in December 2009 a two-year political amnesty that had frozen the allegations against Zardari and other politicians.But Gilanis lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said the Swiss authorities had also closed the cases and that there was no third party to claim the funds.Chief Justice Chaudhry said the court was running out of patience.You have to implement the judgement in any case, the judge said, addressing himself to Ahsan.You have to persuade the chief executive that this is court judgment and you have to implement it, Chaudhry insisted.Gilani himself appeared before the Supreme Court on January 19, citing Zardaris immunity as explanation for his refusal to obey the courts order.Aitzaz however told the court that the letter cannot be written to the Swiss officials.Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry earlier said even the appeal amounts to contempt of court. The contempt notice could be withdrawn if the PM writes a letter to Swiss officials.The court also removed objectionable paragraphs from the appeal. The court said relief was being sought in return for so-called favours.Adovocate on record also said the PM has also asked to remove objectionable questions. Chief Justice who is heading 8-member bench hearing contempt case against the PM said no one was above the law.The PM has said he has done a favour to the court. This is the language which he should not have used, observed the court.Aitzaz Ahsan said the PM has simply stated the facts and by mentioning the courts restoration, he defended himself. He offered to remove those passages from the appeal. The court again asked about writing the letter to which Aitzaz refused on the behalf of his client saying it was not a matter of give and take.The court said it was not a matter of give and take but the national wealth that was lying in Swiss banks. –Agencies
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