Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdry said today in his remarks during hearing of Speaker’s ruling case that the conviction in contempt of court contains direct link with the disqualification, SAMAA reported on Friday.

A three-member bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdry resumed hearing of the Speaker’s ruling case this day.

PM Gilani’s counsel Aitzaz Ahsan said in his argument during the hearing that there are three types of court contempt offense but only one type effects member of the parliament.

The Chief Justice said in his remarks that this issue could have been raised in the appeal but you accepted the conviction.

Aitzaz Ahsan said in counter arguments, the Prime Minister accepted the conviction only, not the disqualification and there was no need of any appeal as the PM had already completed his conviction.
 
He demanded the court to form a larger bench for this case’s hearing as it is an important issue.

The Chief Justice said, branch of committing a crime can be eliminated by the appeal only. Aitzaz Ahsan said, petitions against Speaker’s ruling are not worthy of hearing and Speakers post is not mere a post office, so it is constitutional right of speaker to take decision after reviewing an issue thoroughly.

Issues which could have been raised in the appeal, cannot be settled during hearing of the petition, added the Chief Justice.

Aitzaz Ahsan added, less than two years’ punishment cannot disqualify any member of the Parliament while least two years’ conviction is awarded to the accused of moral decline only.
If someone is punished for corruption, then how he can still remain prime minister while confined in the prison, asked the Chief Justice to Aitzaz. He replied, political issue is something else but the Constitution has a room for it.

How the Constitution can state that a corrupt person can be ruler of the country, enquired the CJ to Aitzaz. He replied, some time please agree upon my suggestions sir. The CJ said, till date we continued agreeing and following your suggestions. Aitzaz said, no now you have stopped acting upon my suggestions sir.

If it has been stopped now, then there will be a different back ground of that, added the CJ, saying the PM is only member of the assembly, who was convicted but he does not file appeal against that; normally, a common person also rushes for appeal to remove conviction’s stain.

After completion of today’s session, the court adjourned hearing of the case till Monday. SAMAA