Speaker rules out disqualification of Gilani

Islamabad: The Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly ruled Thursday that no question of disqualification of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had arisen from the Supreme Court verdict that convicted him for contempt of court.

Dr Fehmida Mirza, in her lengthy ruling released by her office, said there was no need to forward a disqualification reference against Gilani to the Election Commission of Pakistan as the Supreme Court had not raised the issue of his disqualification in its verdict.

The speaker rejected a petition filed by advocate Moulvi Iqbal Haider for Gilani's disqualification, terming it "without any merit" and "not maintainable."

The Pakistan People's Party hailed the speaker's decision and its jubilant workers took to the streets in various cities, dancing and shouting slogans. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the speaker's decision was in accordance with the country's constitution and it was taken after consultations with legal experts.

Dr Mirza said in the ruling that "no specific charge" had been framed against the PM regarding the propagation of any opinion or acting in any manner against the independence of the judiciary or defaming or ridiculing the judiciary.

Gilani was convicted on April 26 for not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Under Article 63(2) of the country's Constitution, the speaker decides on the prime minister's disqualification as a member of parliament.

If the speaker concludes that a question of disqualification of a member of parliament has arisen the speaker has to send a reference to the Election Commission within 30 days and in case it is not done within this period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission, according to the article.

Dr Mirza, who was elected to the post of speaker in 2008 as candidate of the PPP, said in the ruling that the speaker "is not supposed to act merely as post office."

She said as Speaker she is not bound to forward the disqualification reference to the election commission, but has to apply her mind "judiciously" to decide whether any question in the nature of disqualification has arisen.