With fate of his government and own political career hanging in the balance, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday told federal cabinet he would personally appear before the Supreme Court on Thursday (today) to hear its verdict in the contempt case in which he was indicted for refusing to implement court decision on writing letter to Swiss authorities for reopening money-laundering case against President Asif Ali Zardari.“I have been summoned by the court for the third time in recent months,” Gilani said adding that he has decided to respond because he has always held the court in high esteem and would continue to do so in future as well. His legal team would work out strategy over whatever is the verdict. Cabinet members expressed solidarity with Gilani and decided to accompany him in the court.
Legal opinion is divided whether Gilani would lose his job if convicted by the court. His counsel Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan maintains that Gilani would continue to be prime minister even if sent to jail for, what he claims as the maximum punishment of six months. But most leading jurists differ with him saying he would be ousted if convicted.
There is a strong contrary argument that even on moral and political grounds Gilani must step down. Even if he decides to seek review of the judgment by a larger bench of the apex court, it would prolong political crisis and instability would have devastating effect on the economy, the administration and international image. The seven-judge bench headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk may either exonerate the prime minister of all charges, or slap him with contempt. The punishment can range from sentence till rising of the court to six months in jail. The court can also disqualify him from holding any public office.
The Swiss case involves President Zardari and six others including his slain wife Benazir Bhutto and a Swiss lawyer who is alleged to have brokered $60 million graft on a deal. The case was withdrawn in 2008 by then attorney-general Malik Qayyum under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) that pardoned corruption charges against politicians in 2007 following a deal between military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto.
The Supreme Court annulled the ordinance in December 2009 and ordered reopening of all cases including the Swiss case. The court indicted Gilani for refusal to write the letter.
Gilani says it would mean betraying the Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party and President Zardari who enjoys immunity from being prosecuted at home or abroad.