Gilani's defiance may earn him another contempt case: Pak SC

Islamabad, Mar 30 (ANI): The Pakistan Supreme Court has said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's defiance in writing a letter to the Swiss authorities over the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) issue could lead him to another contempt of court case.

Gilani's obstinate defiance compelled the Supreme Court to observe on Thursday that it will pass an appropriate order on April 16, The Nation reports.

During the hearing of the NRO verdict implementation case, the court said that Gilani's not writing letter to Swiss authorities despite its clear and unambiguous order of March 8, 2012 could lead to another contempt of court case.

On March 8, a seven-member bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk had directed Prime Minister Gilani to write the letter for reopening of graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and other NRO beneficiaries "regardless of the advice of the secretaries as he being the head of the government and the chief executive of the country has to make the final decision about writing to the Swiss authorities".

Justice Nasir on Thursday said the PM defence that he acted on the advice of the secretaries is no longer valid as on March 8, they had passed specific order to the prime minister regarding the matter.

The prime minister was erstwhile also directed that in compliance of NRO judgment he write letter to the Swiss authorities. When no progress was made, the court was forced to issue contempt of court notice to PM and later contempt charges were framed, whose proceedings are pending in the court.

Appearing on behalf of the federation, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq informed the court that the premier has submitted a report in this regard. Justice Khosa said PM's reply asks for postponement of the implementation proceeding, while they have ordered for the compliance of December 16, 2009 order.

Instead of submitting a report regarding the implementation of order through his secretary, Gilani on March 21 through attorney general wrote an application to the court wherein he refused to write to the Swiss and conveyed the court to take up this matter after the final decision on contempt of court proceedings.

The letter said, "The very issue in question (the subject matter of the order dated 8-3-2012) is already sub judice in Crl OP 6/2012 before the same honourable bench... Although the present proceedings and the proceedings in the contempt of court case (Crl OP 6/2012) are different; yet the issue involved is essential and materially the same... Further proceedings, if any, in the matter be undertaken only after the former has been completed." (ANI)