Pak SC indicts PM Gilani on contempt of court charges

Islamabad, Feb 13: In a landmark judgement made by Pakistan Supreme Court, it has pronounced Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani guilty of contempt of court charges. The verdict was pronounced before the 7-member bench headed by Justice Nasir ul Mulk in court room number 4 in the Supreme Court.

Gilani has however denied the charges and says he is not guilty of the contempt of court charges in the NRO case. He refused to accept the charges as well. All the 7 judges in the bench have concurred with the charges. Gilani was indicted for not implementing paragraph 178 of NRO verdict spreading over two pages.

Delivering its verdict, the Pak Supreme Court had stated that Gilani was given 2 years to act on orders. On being asked if he understood the charges, Gilani said that has read and understood the indictment order. The court had ruled that Gilani failed to act on repeated court orders to revive cases of alleged money laundering against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.

Following the order, Gilani will now have to face the case as an accused. Replying to the court, Gilani had maintained that he will not write to Swiss officials and vehemently stated that President Zardari enjoyed immunity. He had stated that the charges against Zardari was politically motivated and that he enjoys immunity both within the country and outside.

In an earlier interview to Geo News, Gilani had commented that he will resign if the Supreme Court convicts him in a contempt of court case for not acting against President Asif Ali Zardari. According to local reports, Gilani's lawyer has told the court that the PM will not appear before it till Feb 17. Gilani has been given time till Feb 27 by the court to present his witnesses.

OneIndia News