Appearing before the Supreme Court in a contempt case, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani defended his stand in not reopening old corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and writing to a Swiss court in this regard, saying the President enjoyed complete immunity not just within the country but all over the world.
“I have come today to show my respect to this court,” Mr Gilani said. “It will not give a good message to proceed against a President elected by a two-thirds majority,” he told the court, adding: “There is complete immunity for head of states everywhere.”
Mr Gilani appeared to get a breather with the court adjuring its hearing till February 1 and exempting him from personal appearance on future dates. The judges also appreciated Mr Gilani’s decision to appear in person, with Justice Asif Khosa, a member of the bench hearing the case, saying it showed the “supremacy of law” in Pakistan.
But the PM’s problems may not be over since the crisis involving his government’s confrontations with the powerful Army on the one hand and the judiciary on the other remains unresolved.