NRO implementation: SC drops contempt charge against PM Ashraf

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday discharged the contempt notice against the Prime Minister and withdrew proceedings against the government of Pakistan after it was apprised that a compliance of its directive contained in Dr Mobbashar Hassan’s case (NRO) was fully complied with.

A five-Judge bench comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry dictated its order after minister for law and justice Farooq H. Naek submitted the required documents regarding sending of letter to Attorney General Geneva office by Pakistan ambassador to Switzerland and its receipt.

During course of proceedings, the federal minister for law and justice Farooq H. Naek apprised the bench that they had compiled with its directions contained in its order of October 10 and the required letter was received by the Swiss AG office.

He cited two documents containing English and French versions of the letter. To bench’s query, he also produced receipt of the letter received by the Attorney General office Geneva on November 13.

He told the bench that they had fully compiled with the Court’s direction contained in para 178 of the NRO judgement and prayed for discharge of the contempt notice against the prime minister and closure of proceedings in the instant case against the government of Pakistan.

After going through the documentary record, the bench dictated its order accordingly. The Supreme Court during last month had directed the Law minister to produce the documentary evidences regarding sending of letter to Swiss authorities, receipt of sending the letter to and its receival by the AG Swiss office.

The bench had told the law minister that they would issue an appropriate order regarding the disposal of case on next date after going through the relevant documents.