Zardari's immunity makes approaching Swiss courts to reopen cases "irrelevant" Aitzaz

Islamabad, Jan 24 (ANI): Aitzaz Ahsan, the counsel for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case, has said it would be "irrelevant" to write a letter to Swiss courts to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari because he has "complete immunity".

He said Article 248 of the Constitution provides immunity to the president and "he doesn't need to approach a court to seek it".

"If someone files a petition against the chief justice of Pakistan or chief justice of the Lahore High Court, registrar offices of the two courts will not accept these petitions because a case cannot be filed against chief justices," the Daily Times quoted Ahsan, as saying.

Ahsan said chief justices would not approach courts to seek immunity.

Insisting that there would be no contempt of court if a letter was not written to Swiss courts, he said: "Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani did not commit contempt of court and refuse to write a letter due to protection [for the president] under Article 248 of the Constitution."

Ahsan said the provision of immunity could be changed by introducing an amendment to the Constitution. (ANI)