ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court would today (Wednesday) resume contempt of the court proceedings against Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, the Prime Minister of Pakistan in compliance with this Court’s order dated January 16, 2012.

A seven-member bench of apex court headed by Justice Nasir-Ul-Mulk And Comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed And Justice Muhammad Ather Saeed would hear the suo moto notice taken against noncompliance of court’s historical verdict against National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated by former dictator president Parvez Musharraf.

The Supreme Court on March 08 adjourned the hearing of contempt case against Prime Minister Gilani till today (March 21).

During the course of proceedings‚ the seven member bench said if Prime Minister Gilani does not want to appear in person before the Court‚ it should submit its written reply by 19th of this month. If the Prime Minister wants to appear before the bench it may record his statement on 21st of this month.

In compliance of court order dated March 08 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday submitting his reply before the Supreme Court (SC) in contempt case has again refused to implement the court decision.

While refusing to write letter to the Swiss authorities, the premier contended that the president cannot be thrown before a foreign court and requested the court to show restrain.

The reply asked the court to refer the letter issue to the parliament like the judges’ appointment matter. The PM also asked the court to withdraw March 08 order passed in his absence.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that he surrenders to the judgment of the people of Pakistan according to the constitution.

The Prime Minister in his reply the people are the judges of the last resort in this world and leaving the matter to them will be the best course of action and also according to the sixth option formulated by the apex court.

Prime Minister Gilani said that all the cases abroad against the President had been conclusively closed by the competent authority of the concerned country and time for filing appeal had also lapsed.

He said the recommendations for not writing letters to the Swiss authorities were based on legal opinions including those of the former Law Secretary and a former Attorney General of Pakistan as well as other material and documents from Switzerland. He said that he acted on the advice expressed in the Summary put up by the Law Ministry. All other directions of the court had been complied with and implemented.

The Prime Minister said he has neither committed nor intended to commit contempt and acted strictly in accordance with the rules of Business. He said the prosecution has failed to link him to any willful and contumacious disregard. There is no question of any willful contumacy on his party.

Prime Minister in his statement maintained that the Head of State has absolute immunity in both criminal as well as civil jurisdiction of all other states under all international laws. He said he thinks it wrong to subject the constitutionally elected incumbent President of Pakistan to the authority of a magistrate of a foreign country and it should be avoided. AGENCIES