Gilani challenges his disqualification by SC
16 March, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday filed an intra-court appeal, requesting the Supreme Court to set aside his conviction and sentence in the contempt of court case. The former premier stated that during the entire contempt proceedings neither the court nor the counsel involved in prosecuting the appellant discussed whether the "so-called disobedience of court directions" in the NRO case tended to bring the Supreme Court and the judiciary into ridicule. On April 26, 2012 a seven-member bench convicted and sentenced Gilani under Article 204(2) of the constitution read with the section 3 of contempt of court ordinance until the rising of the court. On June 19, 2012, a three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, disqualified Gilani from the office of the prime minister as well as member of parliament. In February this year Gilani had filed a review petition against his disqualification, but a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on March 13, ordered him to first remove the hurdle in the way of his disqualification as member of the National Assembly. In pursuance of that order, Gilani filed the intra-court appeal on Friday, in person, under section 19 of the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003. The petitioner stated that despite his clear and unequivocal support and respect for the judiciary he was erroneously convicted and sentenced for "willful flouting, disregard and disobedience of apex court in the order passed in National Reconciliation Ordinance. "The appellant has always obeyed the orders of the apex court and held the judiciary in highest esteemed as he firmly believes that a free and independent judiciary serves one of the most vital functions of the state by enforcing the laws of the country and the delivery of justice," the appeal stated. End.
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