Contempt notice against PM challenged in Lahore Registry of Supreme Court over NRO case

Islamabad, Jan 17 (ANI): A petition has been filed in the Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court against a contempt notice issued against Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani over the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

Barrister Zafarullah in his petition argued that under the Article 248-1 of the Constitution, the premier also enjoyed immunity like the president, The Dawn reports.

The petition further said that writing a letter to Swiss authorities was not the job of the prime minister.

It also said that the court should have summoned the law secretary and the law minister before calling the prime minister ahead of the January 19th trial.

Gilani had offered to resign yesterday after meeting President Asif Ali Zardari, saying that if parliament wants his resignation, he will hand it over willingly.

"If parliament wants, I can resign," said Gilani.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan's Supreme Court had issued a contempt notice to Gilani, and asked him to appear before it on January 19th to present his point on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) issue.

Gilani is the second Prime Minister of Pakistan to be issued a contempt notice by the country's apex court.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed President Asif Ali Zardari, Gilani and Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Fasih Bokhari to submit their replies in the same issue.

The apex court further requested the authorities to present details on progress in the implementation of its verdict on the same issue.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had also warned Zardari and Gilani of disqualification for up to 10 years for defying the implementation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict. (ANI)