Pakistan Supreme Court to hear petitions against pro-Gilani ruling

Islamabad, The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to hear petitions challenging National Assembly speaker’s ruling saving Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from disqualification over his conviction for contempt by the country’s highest judicial forum.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will hear the petitions from June 6, court officials said.

The petitions were filed on May 2 by the main opposition party, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI).

National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza last month rejected a petition seeking disqualification of Gilani as member of parliament, ruling that no question of disqualification arises from the April 26 Supreme Court verdict against the prime minister.

The PML-N petition was filed by National Assembly member Khwaja Mohammad Asif under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, contending that the prime minister stands disqualified in light of the apex court’s verdict and that he should be barred from performing further duties as the prime minister.

The petition, filed on behalf of PTI chairman Imran Khan, similarly asks the apex court to restrain Gilani from further acting as the prime minister, and to declare Speaker Fehmida Mirza’s ruling unlawful.

Khan’s petition also requests the court to instruct the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide on Gilani’s eligibility.

The prime minister, who hailed the speaker’s decision as a victory for democracy, has asserted that the issue of disqualification stands finally settled and asked the opposition not to waste its time and stop its agitation aimed at forcing him to step down.

The speaker has publicly stated that under the rules of the parliament her decision cannot be questioned in any court of law, but there is divided opinion in legal circles over the matter.

Gilani was found guilty of contempt by a seven-judge bench of the top court for “wilfully flouting” its order to write a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, which were closed in 2008 on Pakistan’s request before his election as head of state.

The ruling Pakistan People’s Party announced after the speaker’s ruling that the PM would not file an appeal against the verdict as there was no need for it after decision of the custodian of the parliament.