President enjoys complete immunity under Vienna Convention : Aitzaz

ISLAMABAD : Veteran lawyer and Pakistan people s Party (PPP) central leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who will be representing Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani before the Supreme Court on Jan 19, reiterated that President Asif Ali Zardari enjoyed immunity in the country and abroad under the Vienna Convention.

I m stick to my pervious assertion that the Zardari holds immunity in all criminal cases from prosecution in Pakistan as well as in Swiss courts, till he is President of the country, Ahsan said this while talking to media persons here on Wednesday.

He criticized the media for previously misinterpreting his statements regarding the immunity issue. There is no contradiction in my statements. My point of view was clear yesterday and it s the same today. But media channels misquoted and misinterpreted me.

Aitzaz said the immunity is notified and guaranteed in the Constitution and Vienna Convention. The Supreme Court, criminal and accountability courts have accepted immunity for the president under Vienna Convention 1961 and 1963.

To a query pertaining to immunity for Pervez Musharraf, the lawyer said the former president didn t have it. Musharraf s cases are different. There are civil cases against him in which he doesn t enjoy any immunity, while I was mentioning the exemption about President Zardari which he has due to nature of his cases.

He explained that cases registered against the President fell under the criminal cases category in which case no proceedings could be initiated against him.

Aitzaz said that accountability courts have also accepted that the President has got the immunity. If the Swiss government doesn t proceed even after the writing of the letter, it will undermine the Supreme Court which he does not want, said Aitzaz.

He claimed that not writing letters to Swiss authorities by the government seeking reopening of corruption cases against Zardari doesn t come under the contempt of court.

It can t be termed as contempt of court in NRO implementation case. But in spite of that I suggested the government to write to Swiss authorities, he said, adding that I uphold the dignity of Supreme Court and judiciary.

To a question that should Zardari approach the court to prove his immunity, he said It s not mandatory. I will explain it in the court.

When asked if the PM will offer apology to the apex court in Thursday s hearing, the PPP loyalist said why to seek pardon? Let us mull it over.

When asked how he would defend his client before the bench hearing the contempt of court notice against the premier, the barrister said that there should remain some suspense regarding his take on the matter.

He also pointed out writing or not writing letter to the Swiss court was the something. If the decision comes against us, we will go for review petition , he added.

Aitzaz Ahsan along with other senior PPP members would accompany Prime Minister Gilani to the Supreme Court when he appears on Jan 19 to reply in person to the contempt of court notice, sources informed.