Resuming contempt of court proceedings against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
on Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed PM’s counsel Barrister Aitzaz
Ahsan to submit complete evidence to the court by February 27.
The court has asked the counsel of the PM that there are two ways of
prosecution which way should be adopted for the prosecution of case
civil or criminal.
A seven-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice
Nasir-ul-Mulk and comprising of Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice
Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed
Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed
conducted the hearing of the case.
Initially, Attorney General (AG) Maulvi Anwarul Haq presented attested copies of the NRO verdict to the court and other documentary evidence against the PM.
Initially, Attorney General (AG) Maulvi Anwarul Haq presented attested copies of the NRO verdict to the court and other documentary evidence against the PM.
The AG asked for the court’s permission to present further evidence, to which Aitzaz Ahsan said that he may object.
The SC also directed the AG to submit complete evidence by February 27.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk advised the AG to examine decisions taken in
the NRO cases in detail and also to highlight the orders of the court
which were not implemented.
Meanwhile the bench had rejected a plea against the AG by petitioner
Shahid Orakzai, arguing that Anwarul Haq worked under Gilani and could
not, at the same time, act as his prosecutor.
The bench rejected the plea, saying the court reserved the right to
change the prosecutor if he is unable to carry out his tasks properly.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk remarked that the prime minister did not object to his own trial.
Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk remarked that the prime minister did not object to his own trial.
Justice Asif Khosa remarked that the court reserves the right to
change the prosecutor in case he is unable to carry out his tasks
properly.
Later, the apex court dismissed the plea but maintained the office
objections. Justice Asif Khosa in his remarks said that it is authority
of the court that it could change the prosecutor at any stage of the
case.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, AG’s statement was also recorded
while he presented the attested copies of the NRO verdict as one of the
proofs. Attorney General he deserve the right to submit more evidences
after submitting the written statement; meanwhile the counsel of PM
Gilani objected over the statement of AG, adding that he would reply on
the submitted evidences after consulting his client. SANA
