Giliani’s lawyer presents the UN report on immunity for Heads of States
Thursday, April 19th, 2012 3:12:31 by Ahmad Mehdi
Giliani’s lawyer presents the UN report on immunity for Heads of States
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s lawyer on Thursday presented the UN report on immunity for Heads of States before the Supreme Court.
The report, titled "Preliminary report on immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction", was tabled during 60th session of United Nations General Assembly in 2008.
On Wednesday, Aitzaz cited Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, besides State Immunity Ordinance (vi) of 1981.
Supreme Court Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, however, today said that the Vienna convention provides immunity to diplomats and consular staff, but not to presidents.
The seven–member bench, hearing the contempt case against Gilani, said a president only enjoys immunity under the Vienna Convention when he is travelling abroad.
According to the Express Tribune, Gilani’ lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan had earlier stressed that Gilani cannot write the letter until Asif Ali Zardari is the incumbent president since he enjoys constitutional immunity.
Aitzaz also requested that this case be referred to a larger bench and completed his arguments on Article 10-A of the Pakistan Constitution.
The court, however, observed that the president’s immunity is not relevant in this regard and has to be invoked by the president if he wishes to claim it.
Justice Nasirul Mulk said the court has only ordered the Prime Minister to write a letter to Swiss authorities to re-open graft cases against National Reconciliation Order (NRO) beneficiaries.
The apex court initiated the contempt case against Gilani after he refused to act on orders to reopen cases of alleged money laundering against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.
The government has said the cases cannot be revived as the President enjoys immunity in Pakistan and abroad.
The apex court has been pushing the government to reopen the cases against Zardari since December 2009, when it annulled the National Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
Gilani has said he would prefer to be jailed in the contempt case than violate the Constitution by approaching Swiss authorities to revive the graft cases.
Tags: Chief Justice, Islamabad, KLPD, Lawyer, Supreme Court, UN, yousaf raza gilaniShort URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=19538
Posted by Ahmad Mehdi
on Apr 19 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan.
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the word relevant in this news is ‘impunity’, instead word immunity has been used which means defence against micro-organisms, it should be corrected after checking in oxford dictionary.
Ask these idiots
Ask aitzaz what does UN and Vienna Convention says if Head of the state is corrupt and would not follow supreme court order
Ask this moron what UN says if your own head is corrupt what should be done
Let me refresh old mind of Aitzaz
Where was UN when it came to Saddam , Hassni mubarak, Ghadafi and shah of iran
You fool stop bringing UN and vienna when you know that pakistani nation has suffered for 64 years and still suffering under corrupt regime of Daku and choor.
Aitzaz UN and vienna apply those who are not given NRO pardon or those who are not theif
Go suck some rotten eggs you pathetic lawer. you make the whole pakistani nation sick with your Bull Sh*t