Gilani's lawyer says "third force" can benefit from 'Pak govt.-SC confrontation'

Islamabad, Feb 3 (ANI): Aitzaz Ahsan, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's lawyer in a contempt of court case, has said a "third force" could benefit from the ongoing confrontation between the judiciary and executive.

After the Supreme Court ruled to frame contempt charges against Gilani in his presence on February 13, Ahsan said there was "definitely" an option for the government to file an appeal against the court's decision.

"My advice to my client will be to file an appeal, but the decision rests with him," he added.

He said the court should also hold those generals responsible for contempt who had not only dismissed judges, but also arrested them along with their children.

Yesterday, Pakistan's Supreme Court had indicted Gilani in the contempt case, and summoned him on February 13.

A seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC) comprising of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmani, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Athar Saeed was hearing the show cause notice served upon the Prime Minister in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation issue.

Meanwhile, Gilani has said he respects the Supreme Court's decision in the contempt case and would appear in court on February 13.

"I appeared in the apex court last time and will do the same on the next hearing also," he added. (ANI)