Raja may follow in Gilani’s footsteps
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. — File Photo
ISLAMABAD: The affable ambiance that had developed after Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf appeared before the Supreme Court for the first time in contempt case on Aug 27 may wither away soon because the government now seems unwilling to send any letter to the Swiss authorities.
Mr Ashraf, who had assured a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa that he would come up with an amicable solution to the issue in his next appearance on Sept 18, is expected to follow the line adopted by his predecessor and eventually lose his coveted office.
An informed source privy to the latest developments revealed that the formula pursued vigorously by certain elements in the federal government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities in compliance with the NRO judgment in a way that did not hurt the government had been scrapped.
President Asif Ali Zardari shot down the proposal before leaving for Iran to attend the NAM summit in the last week of August.
The final nod on the proposal had to be given by the president without bothering about the sentiments of his party colleagues.
The decision so taken has vindicated the stand advanced forcefully by the leaders close to former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who pressurised the government to stick to its stance of not writing the letter, come what may.
Mr Gilani was sent packing on June 19 after being disqualified as a parliamentarian by the Supreme Court for not honouring its order to write the letter.
When asked, adviser to prime minister on political affairs Fawad Chaudhry acknowledged that for the time being the government would continue to stick to the same line taken by Mr Gilani, that “we respect the judiciary but at the same time we have to adhere to the Constitution that bars us from exposing the president to a foreign judicial system”.
Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Tariq Mehmood said: “I see a bleak scenario because the ongoing face-off between the executive and the judiciary will further intensify in the coming days.”
He said the contempt case against President Zardari pending in the Lahore High Court for not relinquishing political office of PPP co-chairman has already vitiated the political atmosphere.
Mr Mehmood said he feared the government might go for an all-out confrontation with the judiciary.
When Prime Minister Ashraf appears before the court along with his counsel Waseem Sajjad, he is likely to present a summary saying he had not come alone. Rather the entire cabinet is with him in endorsing the view that the letter should not be written.
The Constitution provides an authority to the prime minister to act either directly or through the federal ministers (the cabinet) in performance of his functions.
Mr Mehmood said that if Prime Minister Ashraf was also disqualified, the next premier could be a woman from the special reserved seats. If that does happen the PPP would not lose a National Assembly seat if the third chief executive is also disqualified.
Why not the prime minister writes the letter and save the derailing democracy at the cost of corrupt president. Doing this he strengthen the law of the land and also the democratic process. Tell me who wants a corrupt President, at moment it looks like only the PPP parliament not those those who voted them.
A political Government cannot and should not write such letter against their own sitting president. They will not survive after and will be a laughable material in history. Declaring NRO unconstitutional was justifiable but signaling out one person in the whole proceeding is wrong. Court should find some way out to save their face otherwise this will open up a crisis in which ongoing political process can be hijacked. This will create a new wave of sympathy for PPP and they will be benefitted politically. PPP’s hater may take a note of it.
Only the Supreme court has the right to interpret the constitution.Good argument.So which one is correct.The Supreme court of Pakistan interpreted that the Martial Law of Gen.Zia and Gen.Mushraff were legal or the elected parliament and the PM should be dismissed by the personal disliking of the Chief Justice.
Let there be held a relatively free and fair general election and the people of Pakistan elect a new political leadership. Apex court can only interpret the Constitution but cannot take political decisions.
Is it true?
somebody needs to stand infront of judicial martial law of Chaudhry Iftikhar
Why does not judiciary write directly to Swiss Bank than confronting with government?
The fact of the matter is that no body is interested in the letter to be written or not written by government or in Supreme Court any more except the writer of this report and newspapers who want to fill sensational reports. The only thing which matters to better senses is whether Pakistan is well placed for democracy or not.
The issue is President is affiliated to the party. This should not happen. If it was MQM in power I am sure they would be racing to write the letter
and Zardari racing to dismiss the government.
“we respect the judiciary but at the same time we have to adhere to the Constitution that bars us from exposing the president to a foreign judicial system” Fawad sahib, according to the constitution, only the judiciary can interpret the constitution, not you or anyone else from the executive.
The judiciary should back down from pushing yet another prime minister from the precipice.
I don’t know how it looks from the inside but from outside the country it looks pretty bizarre and small minded for the judiciary.
I live in the middle east and people here cannot understand how a government refuses to follow the law and the orders of the Supreme Court.
People here do not think that the SC is being petty, just enforcing the law.
Is this how the government in the US behave ot is expected to behave? I am surprised that people think that following the law is petty.
I agree 100% with you Salman
Seems like PPP is all set to make every thing ready to play Sympathy and Shahadat card to poor masses of Sind again. And the rest of Pakistan suffers
True, Mr. Z wants to strengthen Sympathy card and than use in election.
It seems that Mr. Z has got lessons from indian politicians , how to use people’s emotions
don’t forget a 100 foot portrait of benazir and bhutto sb.
Only in media PPP roars about the President’s immunity, not ones they have taken this plea before the Supreme Court .
Can someone please inform me what does the constitution state regarding the fact that it is treason to write a letter.
“Treason to write a letter”… where is that written?
Is exposing a corrupt man called treason?
Is retrieving looted national money treason?
Even if it is not treason why violate the constitution.
The constitution does not state that it is treason to do so….only people say it to try to defend their stance.
Does the constitution say “Writing a letter to an international court which may indite the president is a crime” . NO!! Only thing it states is that the “President while in power holds immunity”. OK! let him hold his immunity , we are not saying e is guilty yet! all the SC is saying is to write a letter to the Swiss court asking them to reopen the case. If the President is innocent he is will become a national hero and if he is found guilty then at least Pakistan will hopefully get their money and ONLY when he is not president will he be on trial, he can just run off to some other nation then.
BUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH WRITING A LETTER TO THE SWISS COURT, DOES PPP HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOESNOT BELONG TO THEM?
I wish PPP leadership reconsiders their position and write a letter ordered by the SC in the best interest of the country they are ruling.
If only we could get rid of Zardari!
Will that make Pakistan the strongest and the most prosperous country to live in?
Yes it will!!
It’s a made up story, fabricated poorly.
This is awesome, lets make a world record for most prime ministers taking office within a year! Yay!
Italy has the record.
Very good idea.
This constitutionally fundamental issue has to solved by the Apex Court, the guardian of the constitution, so that in future, the governments will not be play shenanigans for partisan and personal interests.
State is the guardian of constitution and elected representatives has greater responsibility than any other organ of the state.Let us recognize it.