Islamabad, Feb 13 (IANS): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday fought jostling crowds to enter the Supreme Court to attend the hearing of a contempt of court case for failing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
There was tight security as the prime minister reached the court premises, reported Geo News.
Gilani has refused to write to the Swiss authorities to recover money allegedly stashed away by the president, as directed by the Supreme Court, arguing that Zardari enjoys immunity under the constitution.
Accused of graft, Zardari had been granted amnesty under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in 2007 by then president Pervez Musharraf to facilitate his return and, primarily, that of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from self-exile.
The NRO that granted immunity to politicians and bureaucrats in corruption cases was struck down as void in 2009.