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Summary Newly-appointed AG Irfan Qadi to act as prosecutor in PM contempt case.
The seven-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk resumed hearing of contempt case against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today.During case proceedings, the court rejected case adjournment plea submitted by newly-appointed Attorney General Irfan Qadir.Irfan Qadir asked the court to hold proceeding over pending cases before hearing contempt case against the Prime Minister.Earlier, former attorney general Maulvi Anwarul Haq excused to act as prosecutor in the case, thus, the apex court while accepting his request appointed Irfan Qadir as new prosecutor in the case.Earlier on Thurday, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel of the Prime Minister argued that firstly it is not a question of whether a show cause notice was issued by the bench or the charge has been framed by it. It pertinent question is whether its own initiative without an application or a petition goes to proceed in contempt against the respondent. He said such an initiation could as per article 10-A‚ how constitutionally the judges of this bench regardless of a preference‚ plea or otherwise of either party.Secondly he maintained in this case that it is not one of corruption for pursuit of any alleged proceeds of crime. It is a case that concerns the one of his absolutely immune under the international law from civil or criminal proceedings before any forum outside Pakistan of constitutionally elected President.It is also thus not a case of disobedience of this honourable court but a matter of Pakistan s national status in the comity of nations, he added.He said as such the order of this court is not implementable for the time being alone. Even it were‚ it will be argued that considering a status of the office of the President. He said it ought not to be implemented for such time only as the incumbent is the President.
