Pakistan SC disqualifies PM Yousuf Raza Gilani after his conviction

Mangalore Today News Network/ CNN- IBN

Islamabad, June 19, 2012: Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday declared Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ineligible to hold office and said he stood disqualified since April 26 when he was convicted and sentenced for contempt.

 

 

The apex court also asked President Asif Ali Zardari to play constitutional role for continuation of democracy. Paksitani TV channels reported the court has also ordered Zardari to select a new Prime Minister.

The verdict also states that the Election Commission of Pakistan should issue a notification regarding Gilani’s ineligibility. The verdict, a huge setback for the Prime Minister, means that Gilani, 60, will not be a member of Parliament.

A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain heard a set of constitutional petitions challenging National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza’s ruling over the reference against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The bench had been hearing a set of petitions filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Azhar Chaudhry advocate and others challenging the speaker’s ruling of May 24 over the qualification issue.