PM Gilani says he respects court, will appear on 13th
03 February, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday he respected the Supreme Court's decision and would appear in court on February 13.
"I appeared in the apex court last time and will do the same on the next hearing also," Gilani said in the National Assembly while responding to the speech of opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Commenting on the 20th Constitutional Amendment lying with the House, PM Gilani said the government wanted to strengthen the institutions.
"We have done unprecedented work to strengthen the country's institutions and would consider the proposals of the opposition in this regard."
Responding to the opposition leader's demand to exercise authority over the intelligence agencies, referring to the killing of four people in their custody, Gilani said all institutions needed to work under their constitutional domains, and that they were all answerable to parliament.
Earlier, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in a contempt of court case, said on Thursday a "third force" could benefit from the ongoing confrontation between the judiciary and executive.
Speaking to the media after the Supreme Court ruled to frame contempt charges against the prime minister, Aitzaz Ahsan said there was "definitely" an option for the government to file an appeal against the court's decision.
"My advice to my client will be to file an appeal, but the decision rests with him," he said. He said the court should also hold those generals responsible for contempt who had not only dismissed judges but also arrested them along with their children.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Yaseen Azad said Thursday's verdict of the court could trigger constitutional crisis in the country.
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