Gilani may get relief if he complies with court

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court promised Thursday to drop contempt charges against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani if he obeys an order asking Switzerland to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

On Thursday, the court heard an appeal from Gilani, but only hardened its stand against the weak government.

After more than six hours in court, chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry adjourned the appeal, telling the prime minister’s lawyer to conclude his arguments by 10:30 a.m. on Friday. But the eight-judge bench insisted that the government obey its order issued in 2009 to re-open corruption cases and write to authorities in Switzerland.

“The prime minister should write the letter — we will pass the order,” Chaudhry told the court earlier in reference to the court dropping its summons order for Gilani to face indictment for contempt on Monday.

Yasin Azad, president of Supreme Court bar, said there is little hope for Gilani to avoid conviction. “Until now both parties seem inflexible but if Gilani is convicted the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party would encash it politically and exploit the issue in its election campaign.”

Ex-information Minister Ali Durrani said since the government is not yet ready for the next elections, it wants to remain in the power until the last moment. “Their options are very limited and there is a possibility that they will reconsider their decision of not writing the letter to Swiss courts especially after the failure of the ploy of making Aitzaz the premier’s counsel.”