ISLAMABAD, Pakistan ? At a dramatic session marked by heated arguments, Pakistan?s Supreme Court on Thursday gave a brief respite to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who appeared before the justices to defend himself against possible contempt of court charges.
B.K.Bangash/Associated Press
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appeared at Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday.
The court adjourned the hearing to Feb. 1.
Mr. Gilani is facing contempt charges for failing to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The Supreme Court has been infuriated over the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party?s refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against Mr. Zardari. Since December 2009, when the Supreme Court struck down an amnesty that nullified corruption charges against thousands of politicians, the court has insisted that the government reopen corruption cases against him.
But the government has resisted the court pressure, maintaining that Mr. Zardari, as president, enjoys immunity in local and international courts. On Monday, the court initiated contempt proceedings against Mr. Gilani and asked him to appear in court to defend himself.
At Thursday?s hearing, Mr. Gilani?s lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, argued that the issue was not whether the Mr. Zardari enjoyed immunity, but whether Mr. Gilani believed in good faith that the president enjoyed immunity. The justices pressed him to explain why Mr. Gilani would not write a letter to Swiss authorities.
?As of today I have not the capacity to write the letter,? Mr. Ahsan said on behalf of his client. ?I have every intention of implementing the order as and when the Constitution permits me.?
?No Pakistani authority that upholds the Constitution can push the president into a foreign fire,? Mr. Ahsan added.
Putting aside security protocols, a confident-looking Mr. Gilani drove a Land Cruiser to the hearing. At least 30 politicians from the ruling party and its allies also came in a show of support for Mr. Gilani. Stringent security measures were taken by the capital?s police; a helicopter hovered over the court building.
Prime ministers are rarely ordered to appear before the Supreme Court. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appeared before the court in 1997.
?Today is an important day in Pakistan?s legal and constitutional history as the prime minister himself appeared before the court,? Mr. Ahsan said, speaking to lawyers outside of the court and surrounded by government ministers and supporters of Mr. Gilani. ?He has accepted the majesty of the law and the majesty of the Supreme Court.?
Mr. Ahsan said he would give detailed arguments on the issue of the president?s immunity at the next hearing.
After Mr. Ahsan addressed the cameras, competing groups of lawyers chanted slogans on the court steps, offering a graphic illustration of the divisions inside the once united lawyers? movement that helped remove Pervez Musharraf from the presidency in 2008. ?Whoever is the friend of Gilani is a traitor,? shouted one side.
If convicted of contempt, Mr. Gilani could serve up to six months in prison and be disqualified from holding office.
The court hearings have compounded the problems for the beleaguered government, which is also fending off pressure from the powerful military over a controversial memo that sought American support in thwarting a feared military coup.
Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=8da88691d9318e106c015c6e844356b4
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