World | Pakistan
Pakistan government to challenge Nawaz Sharif ruling
Pakistan's government said on Tuesday it would challenge a court decision disqualifying former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from standing in the upcoming by-elections.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:01 June 25, 2008
Islamabad: Pakistan's government said on Tuesday it would challenge a court decision disqualifying former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from standing in the upcoming by-elections.
The announcement by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani came as hundreds of supporters of Sharif protested outside parliament in Islamabad while others demonstrated in the central city of Multan.
A court in the eastern city of Lahore ruled on Monday that Sharif, ousted by Musharraf in a 1999 coup, was ineligible to stand in a by-election tomorrow because of previous criminal convictions.
Gilani said the decision to move the appeal was taken after consultations with Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), a major partner in the coalition led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
"We will file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the ban on Nawaz Sharif standing in the by-election," Gilani, a senior member of the party of slain ex-PM Benazir Bhutto, told parliament.
Share this article
Related Articles
News Editor's choice
-
Thatcher 'stayed up' for entire Falklands War
Survived by taking 20-minute catnaps
-
Honduras hopes to move past coup with election
Ousted president urges citizens to boycott poll
-
Fonseka to head opposition alliance
Identifies stronger parliament and anti-graft focus as campaign planks
