Interpretation of law exclusive domain of the judiciary, says SC

Supreme Court of Pakistan. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued the detailed verdict in the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, DawnNews reported. 

The verdict, comprising 77 pages, was authored by Justice Nasirul Mulk. The text of the verdict is available here.

Regarding the argument that the letter to Swiss authorities could not be written as President Asif Ali Zardari enjoyed immunity, the order said:

“The Respondent’s stand amounts to saying that the order of this Court is non-implementable, as he believes that the same is not in accord with the Constitution of Pakistan and the International law. This argument, if accepted, would set a dangerous precedent and anyone would then successfully flout the orders of the Courts by pleading that according to his interpretation they are not in accord with the law.”

On April 26, the court had convicted Gilani, making him the first ever chief executive to be convicted for committing contempt of court.

The ruling sentenced him “until the rising of the court”. The time period lasted only 37 seconds, after which the convicted prime minister exited the premises.

Prime Minister Gilani was first accused of contempt for not writing a letter to the Swiss government to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Supreme Court in a judgment in December 2009 had directed the government to start proceedings against President Zardari but the prime minister refused to comply on the pretext that Zardari, being the head of state, enjoyed immunity.