ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan is likely to take up on Wednesday a review petition of former prime minister Yousaf Gilani against his conviction in a contempt of court case last year.
Gilani filed the petition in February, pleading that his conviction be set aside and subsequent disqualification reviewed.
Though the constitution of the bench has not been announced, it is likely that the petition will be heard by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Gilani filed the delayed review petition himself and is likely to argue the case personally.
He was earlier represented by barrister Aitzaz Ahsan in the contempt of court proceedings.
The first challenge for the former prime minister is to justify the delay in filing the review petition as he was disqualified on June 19 last year and approached the apex court in February 2013. Under the law a review petition can be filed within 30 days after the decision.
Gilani argued in the petition that his stand before the bench for not sending a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening the corruption cases against President Zardari was an official act as the prime minister, after a decision by the then cabinet and that there was nothing personal which should have resulted in his disqualification.
“This official act has now been set aside and reviewed by Prime Minister Pervaiz Ashraf (by writing to the Swiss authorities) and endorsed by the judiciary,” the petition stated.
It added that justice required that the petitioner’s conviction should be set aside and his disqualification removed.
Internews
