Pak SC disqualifies Gilani; new PM expected tomorrow

PTI

Islamabad, 19 Jun 2012: In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan Supreme Court today disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and ruled that he "ceased" to be in office since April 26 when it convicted and sentenced him for contempt.

 

A shocked ruling-PPP immediately accepted the verdict and decided to replace the 60-year-old Gilani, who has been the Prime Minister since March 2008.

 

PPP Parliamentary Party is expected to meet tomorrow to decide on his replacement and the names of federal ministers Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Khursheed Shah are doing the rounds for the post.

 

President Asif Ali Zardari has cancelled his two-day visit from tomorrow to Russia to attend a meeting of International Economic Forum following the political upheaval that has hit the country.

 

"Yousuf Raza Gilani has become disqualified from being Member of Parliament," a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said in its short order nearly two months after he was convicted for contempt for refusing to ask Switzerland to reopen multi-million dollar graft charges against President Asif Ali Zardari.

 

"Since no appeal was filed against this (April 26) judgment, the conviction has attained finality. Therefore, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has become disqualified from being a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)... and from the date and time of pronouncement of the judgment of this Court dated 26.04.2012 with all consequences," the Court said.

 

It added, "He (Gilani) has also ceased to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan with effect from the said date and the office of the Prime Minister shall be deemed to be vacant accordingly".

 

In the order, which capped nearly 30 months of bitter feud between the judiciary and the government, the Court also directed the Election Commission to issue a notification stating that Gilani was no longer a member of Parliament.

 

It also said President of Pakistan is required to take necessary steps under the Constitution to ensure continuation of the democratic process through parliamentary system of government in the country.