Raja Pervez Asharf to appear in Supreme Court tomorrow to face contempt charge

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Asharf will appear in the Supreme Court tomorrow to face a contempt charge though a section of the ruling Pakistan People's Party is opposed to the move, sources said today.

"The emerging consensus is that the Prime Minister will appear in court tomorrow though some leaders are totally opposed to the move," a close aide to the premier, who did not wish to be named, told reporters this evening.

"There are some leaders who feel that the judiciary has crossed all limits and that the premier's appearance in court will make no difference to the ongoing standoff," said the aide.

The apex court has summoned Ashraf to personally appear on August 27 to face a contempt of court charge for refusing to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.

Ashraf's predecessor, Yousuf Raza Gilani, was convicted of contempt and disqualified by the apex court in June for refusing to reopen the cases against Zardari.

Legal experts have said Ashraf could face the same fate as Gilani.

During his appearance in court, Ashraf is expected to tell the judges that he had not committed any contempt as the PPP had taken a principled stance on not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities regarding the reopening of graft cases against Zardari.

The PPP's decision on Ashraf's appearance in court was apparently influenced by the thinking of its close allies like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party, which are opposed to any confrontation between the government and the judiciary ahead of the general election scheduled for next year.