ISLAMABAD: The desperation is evident.The government attempted a curious move on the eve of a potentially-decisive hearing for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf regarding the implementation of court orders in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case. As its reply, the government filed an application in court on Tuesday, in which the attorney-general argued that it was the premier’s “constitutional obligation” to disregard court orders that “negate the constitution.”

However, the move was summarily shot down by the apex court.

A day ahead of the crucial hearing of the NRO implementation case, which is to be heard today (Wednesday), Attorney-General Irfan Qadir submitted a civil miscellaneous application asking the court to “recall” its fresh directives to Prime Minister Ashraf to write a letter to the Swiss authorities against President Asif Ali Zardari. The ‘request’ was supported by a litany of complaints against the proceedings of the implementation case, and challenging the court’s jurisdiction to direct the premier to write the letter.

“Both orders of the Court (directing Premier Ashraf to comply with its orders) were violative of the Article 248 (1) of the Constitution … and that the resultant effect of the said orders was tantamount to a clear cut violation of Article 248 (2) of the Constitution,” the attorney-general argued in the application. “The Prime Minister … by virtue of his oath is bound to preserve and protect the Constitution of Pakistan and is under a constitutional obligation to disregard any order of the Court which negates the constitution or the law,” he added. More