Islamabad: Former Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday moved a petition requesting the Supreme Court to review his disqualification from electoral politics in a verdict that convicted him of contempt of court last year.
While convicting him for defying its order to write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening dormant corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, the Supreme Court has declared him ineligible to contest elections and hold any public office for five years.
Talking to the media representatives on the premises of the Supreme Court‚ Gilani said he filed the petition after taking into confidence Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father who is co-chairperson of the party.
He said he had not written the letter as his stance was that the president enjoys immunity both inside and outside the country under the country’s constitution and the Vienna Convention.
He contended that this stance was vindicated in the letter written to the Swiss authorities by incumbent prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
Since the court’s order had been implemented after demonstration of accommodation by the court and the government‚ therefore‚ his disqualification should also be ended, the former prime minister said.
