Contempt of court: Pakistan Supreme Court adjourns till Feb 1

Pakistan Supreme Court Thursday adjourned till Feb 1 hearing in the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who made a personal appearance following the notice for not implementing a directive to act against President Asif Ali Zardari for corruption.

Gilani told the court that the the country's constitution provides immunity to the president.
He said he had spent six years in prison and had never been reluctant to appear before the court that shows that he always respected the court, said Geo News.

The apex court had earlier warned the government of action if its ruling on the amnesty law, which granted immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases, was not implemented by Jan 10, 2012.

The court had also sought reopening of cases closed under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). It had ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen cases against the president and set a seven-day deadline.

Zardari, accused of graft, had been granted amnesty under the NRO) which was issued in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate the return of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Zardari. The NRO was struck down as void by the Supreme Court in 2009.

Prominent Pakistani lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan is representing Gilani.