Gilani defies top court as he rules out letter to Swiss authorities

Islamabad Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has virtually ruled out writing a letter to Swiss authorities to reopen old graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, according to newspaper reports published Monday.

The Supreme Court last week ordered the prime minister to write a letter to Swiss authorities by March 21. The reports quoted Gilani as telling a group of reporters in Lahore on Sunday that he would "follow the Constitution which gives immunity to the Office of the President".

"If we were to write the letter to Swiss courts, we would not delay it for so long," he said.

Amnesty quashed

The Supreme Court in its December 16, 2009 verdict quashed a Musharraf-era amnesty decree or National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and directed the government to reopen all corruption and criminal cases that were closed under it.

Gilani said all over the world "there is immunity for the president, prime minister and foreign minister. I do not have the prerogative to take a decision about immunity issue because it rests with parliament."

"Parliament, not I, should be charged for contempt of court for giving immunity," the prime minister added.