Contempt of court: Khan, Sharif demand Gilani's resignation
"Prime minister should immediately resign. He should step down without causing further crisis," PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said live on Geo News, also calling for fresh elections. "The court's verdict is based on truth and reality. It must have punished the prime minister with a heavy heart, but the prime minister himself is to be blamed."
"The prime minister himself invited this situation," he added.
Sharif said the PML-N will decide its future course of action if Gilani attends parliamentary sessions after the sentence.
PTI chief Imran Khan, holding a press conference stated that Gilani, in light of the Supreme Court order, is no longer the prime minister of Pakistan. "He has lost all moral authority, so he should quit office from today."
If Gilani doesn't resign, the PTI will bring out a 'tsunami march' which will be the biggest show in the history of Pakistan, the party leaders threatened and added that the media will be briefed about the march after the completion of the legal process in the Supreme Court.
The PTI chief added that Gilani is only standing for the president of the country, rather than standing for the people and criticised all political leaders who joined the prime minister in the Supreme Court. "They are also covering corruption."
"Who will follow the laws if the chief executive of the government breaches the law," he added.
PTI leader Hamid Khan rejected the arguments presented by Gilani's lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan and also called for the attorney general to resign from his post. "He was defending the prime minister without having fulfilled the constitutional obligation."
JI chief Munawar Hassan also urged the prime minister to quit as he had "lost moral ground" after the judgment.
"The prime minister should have himself declared by now that I am no more prime minister," he said.
"The Supreme Court sentenced him in an honourable manner and it also got its verdict implemented. He is now a convicted person and he cannot remain prime minister now," Hassan told Geo.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement calls for meeting
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has called for a meeting of its legal and constitutional experts to discuss the Supreme Court convicting Gilani of contempt charges and will issue a statement after it hears from experts.
Gilani was convicted of contempt of court by the Supreme Court of Pakistan but was given only a token sentence in a case that could still see him thrown out of office.
The Supreme Court found the prime minister guilty of contempt over his refusal to obey an order to write to the authorities in Switzerland to ask them to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Gilani had faced a maximum sentence of six months in prison, but the court ordered him to be "imprisoned" until the hearing adjourned and he emerged shortly afterwards smiling and waving to supporters.
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Its not time to showcase our useless comments... We must go out of our homes and get this out of his seat....if prime minister is not willing to step down as demanded by people, WHERE THE HELL IS DEMOCRACY....
It is not the first time that a sitting prime minister has been charge sheeted in the Supreme Court, Mian Nawaz Sharif the then prime minister, faced the identical situation and was indicted for contempt of supreme court. An unruly mob of Pakistan Muslim League workers, MNA,s, MPA,s and members of youth wing in order to compel the Chief Justice to drop the contempt proceedings against Mian Sahib stormed the Supreme Court, breached police cordon around the court house where S M Zafar was arguing before the supreme court bench headed by the then Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah. A journalist rushed into the court room and warned the judges of the impeding attack. Whereupon, the chief justice abruptly got up and adjourned the hearing. the mob was highly provoked, were chanting threatening slogans, entered the court room and damaged the furniture. Afterwards, a rebellion of the judges against the Chief Justice had been manoeuvred, consequently Justice Sajjad Ali Shah had to go on premature retirement. It is not befitting for Mian Sahib to demand the resignation, on appeal, the prime minister will be acquitted.
Imran Khan, he had already lost all moral authority years ago and continued despite that. Do you really think he is going to resign just because the courts reminded us of that fact? Be realistic. Either he will go via force or NOTHING.
Yes, Mr.Gillani hurry up before it is too late.
I can now forecast that future government is now in the pocket of PPP. In Punjab, PML Q, and MQM will bag many seats to for government. Other provinces will be no problem. PML N asked for this and they will get it. People with stiffed necks always remain same.
@Khan...PTI is not in parliament but we are in Pakistan & the verdict has been given by the apex court of Pakistan therefore, this struggle to get their verdict imposed will not b limited to parliament only it would b on streets...There would b a "Tsunami March" both PPP & PML(N) have or had been culprits of contempt of court...people are not expecting anything positive from this "Samjhota Express" now.!!
@Ahsan: As a matter of fact, if PMLN comes to power (God forbid), people will not see any difference at all...
@Ahmad:
and will do 'something' that it could not do since 1985! Give us a break, will ya
Mr Imran should not go against this verdict . Pukhtoons are with the Gailani and Zardari and we want end of hegemony of one region and their exploitation. ANP,MQM and PPP stand united agaist biased media and biased region of Pakistan.
Now Pakistan's has become world's first country to have PM who is SAZA YAAFTA (convicted).
Why is IK saying all this atleast he is not part of the parliament ... Stay away
@Ch Allah Daad: lol. you understand what I mean :P
It doesnt matter if PML-N wins or not. The real question is do have expertise to govern? Are they not corrupt? Do they have a vision?
I believe it will take only 2 years and ppl will see Nawaz Sharif is no more potent than gilani.
Mian Sahib's suddent reaction shows that he is on top of things, unlike Imran who would asking his people what happened.
@abbasi: Younus Habib is telling nation about his honesty
@Majid: At a time of need you will find him SA
@Ahmad: Not at all
Why Nawaz Sharif not resigned, when Court called him in court,and he persuded his supporters to attack on Court, he should have resigned himself that time, when he did not do, he should not ask Gillani to do ,...................
Let this habit to develop Mr. Sharif that a democratic and elected govt complete its run. Back in 2000, Plane conspiracy "tayyara sazish" case was made against you, the panel of twelve judges including the current CJP gave the verdict that you invited the martial law. They were wrong, I agree. But you and everyone else were pardoned even after the reopening of NRO case. Why there is baisedness? One question more, is there any system or the indiviuals are above the system be it general, justice, politician?
Incase if PM not rendering his resignation, PML(N) should resign from National and punjab assembly on the grounds of not become a part of assembly having convicted PM.
When would it be that our (so called) leaders would feel to say, "Guys! it's time for me to say quits"
Well done SC! Congrats Gilani! You have made this country proud! (insert sarcasm)
Why demand resignation now Mr. Sharif? What were you and your party doing with PPP in the last four years?? Enjoying perks and privileges???
Pot calling the kettle black !!!
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA Karachi.
I couldn't agree more with PML N. PM should not bring more disrepute to the Office of the PM. He should immediately step down.
Na'Real.!!...:)
People of Pakistan demand both of them resign from politics Please.
NS, first you need to resign from the politics as you are also culprit in Mehran Bank Scandal.
@Ahmad: "PMLN will Win next Elections IA". Yes they can win as they won in 90's with the help of ISI.
Nawaz Sharif demand is genuine It not about point scoring. Sharif is most honest and patriot politician ever born in Pakistan.
Ha ha ha Sharif thinks he will be next Prime Minister OH GOD . not again
Agree, He should resign.
Nawaz Sharif - A true statesman! Kudos!
MR Nawaz Sharif in any case you are not coming to power.
Nawaz Sharif continues to be naive, expect this much morality from such immoral lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! NS was in the same situation and he did not resign. In fact he had his holligans storm the courts................get a life buddy and people living in glass houses should not be throwing stones!!
Irony... Assailants from the attack on Supreme Court 1997 are telling Gillani to resign.
PMLN will Win next Elections IA.
Please don’t play this dirty politics with us …….. Being a Pakistani we demand both of you and your fellows for the permanent resignation from the politics........ And allow entering the genuine and true leaders in the Politics......who can serve the nation and for this one of the best example is abdul sattar edhi We need the leader like this spirit who come in the just for the welfare of the nation.
Shahbaz Sharif should also step down until the decision of Asghar Khan petition.
Why all this hate directed towards the biggest province by the ppp? This mentality of diverting attention away from one's own corruption by blaming everything on another province is disturbing. Taunting the judiciary by painting it in ethnic colours is a bad strategy being used by the ruling party. If a verdict doesn't come to your liking, resorting to incitement of hate against one ethnic group is very harmful for the country. The ppp is in power for all of pakistan,it should not act out of racism.