Sunday, August 26, 2012

Pakistan PM Ashraf arrives at nation's Supreme Court in contempt of court case - @Dawn.com

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf- File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf,  who was issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court for refusing to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, arrived at the Supreme Court on Monday.

09:27: Prime Minister Ashraf arrives in Courtroom No.2.

09:15: Qamar Zaman Kaira said writing the letter to Swiss authorities was in violation of the Constitution, adding that, the PPP was ready to offer more sacrifices for democracy.

09:11: Earlier, Prime Minister Ashraf told media representatives that he was appearing before the court out of his respect for the judiciary.

09:06: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf arrived at the Supreme Court.

09:03: ANP leader Haji Adeel was also present in the court.

08: 58: “A middle path should be adopted this time,” Kaira told reporters outside the Supreme Court.

08: 57: Qamar Zaman Kaira said: We have appeared before the courts earlier also and have respected the decisions in spite of having reservations.

08:55: Speaking to media representatives outside the Supreme Court, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the PPP had always respected the institution of the judiciary.

08:51: The hearing would be held in Courtoom No. 2, reports said.

08: 50: The prime minister’s security staff arrived at the court.

08: 45: Deputy Prime Minister Pervez Elahi and Attorney General Irfan Qadir had also arrived at the court.

08: 44: Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar and PPP leader and defence minister Naveed Qamar arrived at the court for the hearing.

08: 42: The prime minister would not be disqualified, PPP leader Amin Faheem said, adding that, the Constitution did not allow the disqualification of a prime minister.

08: 41: Faheem said the party always respected the judiciary.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, which had issued the show-cause notice to the prime minister on Aug 8 for not implementing its order, is expected to decide on the indictment of the prime minister.

Strict security arrangements were made around the apex court in the wake of the hearing of the high profile case. No unauthorised persons were allowed in the red-zone as police has cordoned off the area surrounding the apex court.

Raja Pervez Ashraf is facing similar proceedings in the Supreme Court following the unceremonious exit of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in June this year.

PPP and coalition parties’ stance on the issue

The ruling coalition on Sunday night decided that the prime minister would appear before the Supreme Court. The coalition, however, remained adamant not to write the letter to Swiss authorities for reopening the cases against President Zardari.

The announcement was made in a handout issued by presidential spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar after a 90-minute meeting of coalition partners at the Presidency.

“After an in-depth discussion on points raised by the law minister and weighing available options, the meeting decided that in line with the coalition government’s policy of showing respect to the majesty of law the prime minister would appear before the Supreme Court on Monday,” Babar said.

The spokesman said the coalition partners had resolved to remain united in coping with the challenges confronting the government and the prime minister.

The PPP members were of the view that since there had been no change in the party’s stance on the issue of writing the letter there would be no use of putting the prime minister in the dock.

President Zardari is alleged to have amassed $60 million in Swiss banks.