ISLAMABAD: "Sadly, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza has become a part of the group which is bent upon disobeying Supreme Court’s verdict against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani," Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lashed out on Thursday.
“We think that the NA Speaker has used her position wrongly and has not done justice,” he said, referring to Mirza’s decision on prime minister’s disqualification.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Nisar maintained that Gilani was convicted by a bench of the highest court in the country, and thus stood disqualified.
“On one hand, seven judges have convicted Gilani of contempt of court while on the other hand, the NA Speaker says there is no question of disqualification,” he said, referring to a clause of the Constitution which says any sitting member of the house is disqualified if they are convicted by a court. This has been the major crux of the Opposition's argument.
Gilani, meanwhile points towards the rule where the speaker of the national assembly decides whether his conviction amounts to disqualification from the house.
Nisar further said that as per the law, the case should be sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The ECP officials are neutral and the case should be reviewed by them,” Nisar stated.
Calling Mirza’s decision weak, Nisar said that the case of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi cited by her was irrelevant.
“Javed Hashmi was convicted by a lower court, whereas Gilani was convicted by the highest court,” Nisar said.
Nisar further added that the NA Speaker failed to provide solid examples to support her decision from Pakistan or any country around the world.
Chief Election Commissioner nominees
The Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly also announced the names of three Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) nominees selected by him.
The nominees include acting CEC Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice (r) Fakhruddin Ibrahim and Justice (r) Nasir Aslam Zahid.
Pointing out that the nominees are only from Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Nisar said he did not choose any from Punjab because then people would have accused him of favouritism.
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What is intriguing is why Nawaz Sharif has abandoned his policy of restraint vis-à-vis the PPP-led government, a restraint informed by the bitter experience of the military taking advantage of the politicians’ falling out to intervene and pack up the democratic system altogether. The restraint shown by Nawaz Sharif over the past four years may have earned him the sarcastic jibe of acting like a ‘friendly’ opposition, but it now appears he has allowed himself to be persuaded by the hawks in his party (led by Chaudhry Nisar and backed up by younger brother Shahbaz Sharif) to go all out against the government. The timing of the change is also intriguing, given that the country is in the run up to general elections. The opportunity for the turn has been presented by the contempt conviction of the prime minister by the Supreme Court but the PML-N has displayed its impatience with the legal and political process to be gone through before the verdict can take effect. Nevertheless, the argument that a street agitation may destabilise democracy, if not provide once again an opportunity to anti-democratic forces to wrap up the system per se has not lost its validity, historically or at the present conjuncture.
Mr. Nisar Please let the democracy flourish in the Pakistan. We the common people & political workers of all parties have not forgotten the horrible role of the judiciary in the past to derail the civil governments. Madam speaker also has a constitutional authorty to take a right decision in favor of democracy. As leader of Opposition in a democratic setup expecting from you also a positive role to strengthen the democracy.
Look, Who is saying and what is saying?
I recall her citing her source for her reasoning. How about the rest of you who have a problem with it? Are you saying the constitution is a conspiracy created so that PPP can be nefarious monsters?
Your statement is open interference in the constitutional power of speaker.please be careful.
Speaker's decision is right, she has constitutional jurisdiction, and she has done according the constitution.
Opposition has failed in its purposes and efforts to derail democratic system and creation of favorable circumstances.
Now they should admit that ZARDARI SUB PER BHARI.
this man is too shallow - only decisions that suit them are good decisions. Can't trust a word he says.
What sort of PM and what sort of Speaker we have. In stead of being loyal to the country and its constitution all of them our loyal to their own vested interests.
Horrible, what nation we are !
The theme of this unfortunate story is corruption in past of President, Prime Minister becoming a shield to protect that corruption, government institutions and many political parties taking side and aiding these national sins in the name of democracy and constitution.
Where our Islamic Republic is going to land?
Nisar is proving to be an ally of SC by his outbursts in its favor. He knows that parliament is supreme as it makes the laws. The speaker used her constitutional powers and this irks Nisar. PML-N is only a party of Punjab, yet they pretend to own Pakistan and think they should rule the country. As far as not respecting the SC decision, nobody respects Justice Munir's and ZAB's decisions and the nation and International bodies have rejected it many times. Even the SC does not have to courage to come out to defend its majority decisions like supporting the PCO and every military takeover, high treason and mutilation of constitution. The generals and judges can commit multiple acts of high treason and shamelessly get away with that but the speaker NA cannot use her constitutional powers. Since when a contempt case is major conviction but subverting constitution is not?
this man is the most unpleasant politician ,this is the same man who couldn't organise a demonstration of ten persons when Musharaf sent Nawaz packing back
Mr CH Nisar, the time for making meaningless statements is over. The constitution has provisions to remove the PM. The motion of no confidence is one ----use it? You will probably not succeed in getting the motion to pass. But at least do it, and if nothing else the voters will know who really supports this disgraceful prime minister.
Mr. Nisar Please let the democracy flourish in the Pakistan. We the common people & political workers of all parties have not forgotten the horrible role of the judiciary in the past to derail the civil governments. Madam speaker also has a constitutional authorty to take a right decision in favour of democracy. As leader of Opposition in a democratic setup expecting from you also a positive role to strengthen the democracy.
PML N is an opposition party so nithing is wrong on her part but one shouid identify the real culprit in this issue .
SCAN THE ROLE OF SC !!
PML N playing dirty politics
As per the constitution, Speaker has the right to reflect and decide. It has been set by Judiciary's own precedences. Let's wait for the decision on Gilani's appeal to the SC, and see what come out after that. It is to early to blame or malign the speaker.
She has proved that all PPP persons are bound to obey the vice chairman !
Just like PMLN did in Punjab through Laptop Corruption,Destroying Student's Future etc etc...
@Saqibtahir: But she is bound to please current President and primeminister.
Stop politicizing judges. Speaker has a constitutional authority and she is not bound to please the opposion.
Very well said by Ch. Nisar !
Stop politicizing judges. Speaker has a constitutional authority that cannot be taken away by any one.
Dear chaudhry sahib , y sitting judge as EC?