Gilani appoints his lawyer to Senate

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Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appointed his lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan as Leader of the House in the Senate and as a member of the parliamentary committee on judges appointment, officials said.
“After consultations with President Asif Ali Zardari, the premier appointed Aitzaz as the Leader of the House,” a official said.

The position fell vacant after the appointment of Nayyar Hussain Bokhari as the Senate chairman.

The Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) had opposed the proposal of appointment of Mian Raza Rabbani as the leader of the house and instead demanded the appointment of Kamil Ali Agha as the house leader, which the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) refused.

The Senate Secretariat has also issued a notification of appointment of Mr Ahsan as a member of the judges committee.

According to sources, Mr Ahsan is likely to be made the chairman of the parliamentary judges committee in its next meeting and a decision in this regard has already been taken. Mr Ahsan will get all the perks of a federal minister such as an office in the Parliament, staff and an official vehicle.

Mr Ahsan is defending the Prime Minister in the Supreme Court in a contempt of court case. Mr Gilani also appointed senior advocate Irfan Qadir as the new secretary law, justice and parliamentary affairs.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minster Yousaf Raza Gilani does not expect a fair trial from the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case against him, his lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan said.

Talking to reporters before the court resumed the proceedings in the case that could cost the PM his job, Mr Ahsan said, “Fair trial is the fundamental right under Article-10A, which should be assured.”

Mr Ahsan asserted that his viewpoint in the contempt case should be accepted, emphasising that as many as five judges do not deserve to sit in the bench according to Article-10A, a judge or an authority
who has issued a show cause notice, cannot sit in the bench hearing a concerning petition.

“Authority which frames chargesheet, is not eligible to hear the same case,” Mr Ahsan added. “My bjection is legal and technical one. And, this stance of mine is correct to the best of my reckoning. Now, this is up to the court to decide on it,” the PM’s counsel said adding Article-10A was put in effect on April 10, 2010.