Islamabad, Aug 27: Pakistan prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf will appear before the Supreme Court today , ignoring calls for defiance.
A five-member bench of the court has summoned the prime minister to personally appear before it and respond to notice regarding writing a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Two key allies of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have opposed a hawkish view prevailing in the ruling party that Prime Minister Ashraf should not appear before the Supreme Court to face contempt charges.
Off-the-record interviews with leaders of the coalition partners revealed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement are strongly against the reported plan to abstain from the court proceedings. The Awami National Party (ANP) is yet to come out with a clear stance.
Media reports said seniors leaders of the PML-Q and MQM in their meeting with President Asif Zardari advised against confrontation with the judiciary.
According to sources in the PPP, a majority of senior party members, including former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, during a meeting at the Presidency on Friday night endorsed the viewpoint of Attorney-General Irfan Qadir that under the Constitution the prime minister was not answerable to any court for his official acts.
The security plan has been finalised for the appearance of Prime Minister in the Supreme Court .
Security would be on high alert in the red zone and no one will be allowed to enter red zone without having computerized national identity cards with him/her.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Operations) would monitor the red zone externally, while 700 personnel including three SSP would be deployed inside the red zone.
The personnel of Rangers will perform duties at Margalla Hills while red zone would also be monitored aerially. Extra contingents of police would also be deployed outside the Supreme Court building.
