ISLAMABAD: 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, DawnNews reported.

A seven-member bench, presided by Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, was hearing 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.

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.

The court had originally ordered the attorney general to prosecute the case and to file documents by February 16, and the defence until February 27 to file documents and a list of witnesses.

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.

Earlier today, 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.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned till February 28.

On February 13, PM Gilani was charged with contempt by the SC. Gilani had pleaded not guilty to the charges that could see him jailed for six months and disqualified from office.

Summoned over the government’s two-year refusal to write to authorities in Switzerland asking them to re-open corruption cases against the president, Gilani is Pakistan’s first premier ever to be charged in office.