Aitzaz Ahsan to represent PM in contempt case

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has hired the services of Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan as his counsel to defend him before the Supreme Court tomorrow (Thursday) in the contempt of court case.

Aitzaz Ahsan, who is a senior member of the PPP, met Prime Minister Gilani at the Prime Minister House on Tuesday and discussed matters relating to the notice received by the premier by the Supreme Court on Monday.

Aitzaz is one of those in the PPP who has asked the government to write the letter to Swiss authorities regarding the opening of cases in compliance with the Supreme Court order on the NRO. Political observers are thus giving importance to the appearance of Aitzaz Ahsan as counsel for Prime Minister Gilani as both ostensibly have a different view on the implementation of the NRO verdict. Political observers are anxiously waiting to see how Barrister Aitzaz handles the situation in the Supreme Court and how he defends the position of the prime minister vis-‡-vis the non-implementation of the Supreme Court’s NRO verdict.

Talking to the media a few days ago, Aitzaz said that there was no harm in writing a letter to Swiss authorities as President Asif Ali Zardari enjoyed immunity under article 248. According to sources, senior leaders of the PPP and the cabinet of Prime Minister Gilani will accompany him to the Supreme Court when he appears on Jan 19 to reply in person to the contempt of court notice.