Pakistani Supreme Court rejects law protecting high-ranking officials
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 3 August 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pakistani Supreme Court rejects law protecting high-ranking officials, 3 August 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/502504fc1c.html [accessed 26 January 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 03, 2012
Pakistan's new prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, faces the same pressure as his predecessor.
Pakistan's Supreme Court has rejected a new law aimed at protecting the president, prime minister and other high-ranking officials from contempt proceedings.
The legislation was enacted in July, apparently to protect new Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
The court ousted his predecessor, Yusuf Raza Gilani, from office in June by charging him with contempt of court for failing to reopen corruption proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.
The court gave the new prime minister until August 8 to respond to the court's demand that he write a letter to reopen corruption cases against Zardari.
In response, the government hastily passed a law declaring high-ranking officials immune from contempt-of-court proceedings.
The court, however, ruled the law was unconstitutional because it eroded the court's authority.
Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
