Pak Prez, PM face off with SC
CONTEMPT LAW: Prez, PM won’t give up right of House to legislate
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the newly-passed contempt of court law, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf have vowed not to give up the right of the Pakistani Parliament to legislate.
“President Zardari and PPP allies held a meeting on Friday night to discuss the issue and unanimously decided to counter any move designed against Parliament’s sovereignty,” a senior official at the presidency said.
“The President discussed a host of issues including the striking down of the contempt law and the forthcoming hearing of NRO implementation case on the 8th of this month,” he added.
PM Ashraf has been given the deadline of August 8 by the Supreme Court to write to the Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against President Zardari failing which action could be taken against him.
The official said that it was unanimous decision of the coalition partners that the government must file review petition in the contempt of court case and it would be filed before the August 8, next date of hearing in the NRO implementation case.
Sources said the option of bringing a new contempt of court law through presidential ordinance was also discussed, but majority of the members opposed the move. Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik has said that India is backing the insurgents in the troubled Balochistan province. “I have brought documentary proof to prove the active involvement of Afghanistan and the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in the destabilisation of the province and patronising of separatists, including Brahamdagh Bugti (separatist leader),” Mr Malik told the Senate. Presenting slides, the minister showed documents, including letters from the Afghan ministries and Indian RAW, to prove foreign involvement in furthering what he called the global agenda to dismember Pakistan. He also showed a letter written on behalf of the RAW for the supply of 25 sniper rifles to the Baloch militants.