Pakistani PM to appear before court in contempt proceedings

Pakistani Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, will appear before the Supreme Court on Monday in contempt of court proceedings, presidential spokesman said late Sunday. The Supreme Court had ordered Ashraf to personally appear on Aug. 27 to explain as to why he is not writing to the Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The court disqualified Yusuf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister in June following his refusal to write to the Swiss authorities. President Asif Ali Zardari had convened a meeting of the senior leaders of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its coalition parties to discuss whether or not Prime Minister Ashraf appears before the court. Presidential spokesman, Senator Farhatullah Babar said the meeting decided that the Prime Minister should appear before the court which will give a positive signal that the government respects the judiciary and dispel the impression of any stand-off between the state organs. He said in a statement that coalition partners and the ministers will accompany the Prime Minister. Babar said that the meeting discussed the current political situation in the country with particular reference to the court cases the government was facing. After an in-depth discussion on the points raised by the Law Minister and weighing available options, the meeting decided that in line with the coalition government policy of showing respect to the majesty of law, the Prime Minister would appear before the Supreme Court on Monday, he said. Accordingly Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf would appear before the Supreme Court on Monday in response to the notice issued to him. It was further decided that as a demonstration of solidarity, the coalition partners will also accompany the Prime Minister to the court room. The coalition partners also resolved to remain united in facing all the challenges confronting the government and the Prime Minister. The President and the Prime Minister thanked the coalition partners for their continued support in the face of all challenges and said that their support was most valuable for political stability in the country. The meeting was called after differences surfaced within the PPP and among the coalition partiers on the issue of the appearance of the Prime Minister in the court. Some PPP leaders including disqualified Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, argued that the Prime Minister should not appear before the court if the government does not intend to write to the Swiss authorities. The Attorney General also argued that the Prime Minister is not answerable to the court about his official responsibilities. Two major coalition partners, however, are of the view that the Prime Minister should appear before the court because it would be considered as a defiance of the judiciary if he refuses to appear.