Monday, January 23, 2012

Presidential immunity ‘discriminatory’ but legal

DAWN.COM



Prominent lawyer and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Aitzaz Ahsan on Monday stated that Article 248 of the Constitution which gives immunity to the president could be termed as a ‘discriminatory law’, however, it could not be discarded without a constitutional amendment.

Speaking to media representatives at the Lahore High Court building, Ahsan said 158 heads of state, including the Pakistani president, enjoyed immunity.

He said there was no need to go to a court to seek immunity and said the Supreme Court should also accept the immunity clause in the constitution.

The barrister revealed that he had not charged any fee from the prime minister for taking up his case in the Supreme Court.

Ahsan said he had in fact agreed to take up the case on conditions that the prime minister would present himself respectfully before the court and that government officials would refrain from issuing statements against the judiciary.

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