Pak SC rejects Gilani's demand to form new bench to hear NRO case on Zardari

Islamabad, Mar 22(ANI): The Pakistan Supreme Court has rejected reservations expressed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's counsel Aitzaz Ahsan in hearing an NRO case on a daily basis.

Ahsan argued that the court can't force Gilani to write a letter to the Swiss authorities for re- opening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, The Nation reports.

He also demanded that the bench, which issued a show-cause notice and gave a verdict against Gilani 'even before the case was started', should not conduct proceedings.

Justice Nasirul Mulk said in response that it meant that any court that framed charges against anyone would be debarred from hearing the case.

Ahsan also said that Article 10-A gave the right of fare trial to an accused, pointing out that Article 10A inserted in 1973 Constitution through 18th amendment says, 'there should be fair trial and due process' to which Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany remarked: "(Are) you telling us there should be fair trial and earlier the courts were not conducting fair trial?"

Ahsan also said that the Supreme Court ruling could not be implemented for the time being as President Asif Ali Zardari has complete immunity during the term of his office.

He, however, clarified that he was not asking the court to review its order and or that the verdict was wrong.

Justice Nasir said that the court ordered the federation to take immediate steps for the implementation of NRO judgment.

The Supreme Court had initiated contempt proceedings against Gilani after the government refused to write a letter to Swiss authorities in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case. (ANI)