Faceoff in House: Opposition, govt clash over PM’s fate
Ch Nisar says PM should enter NA only after proving innocence.
ISLAMABAD:
As expected, the Supreme Court’s verdict against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani remained the bone of contention between the government and opposition during Thursday’s session of the National Assembly.
While the opposition continued its call for Prime Minister Gilani’s immediate resignation, the government said the premier would continue in office.
Notably, NA Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza, with whom the decision to initiate disqualification proceedings ostensibly lies, did not speak a single word on the issue during the entire session.
The opposition members, who entered 40 minutes late, carefully listened to the policy statement given by Law and Justice Minister Farooq H Naek. But just as he concluded his policy statement that Gilani would continue as the prime minister of Pakistan, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said: “Mr Gilani should go to the court – prove his innocence first. Then come back to the Parliament. We will welcome [him then].”
Replying to Nisar’s remarks, Naek said: “You asked the prime minister to go to the court to prove his virtuousness. I say Yousaf Raza Gilani is our prime minister and will continue to work as prime minister of Pakistan.”
Referring to the court’s verdict, Naek said: “Madam Speaker, you have the prerogative to decide the prime minister’s fate. You are the final arbiter.”
“Everybody expects justice from the courts but here [Zardari sahib] is a victim of justice because there is no trial against the president in Switzerland,” he added.
On this point, Nisar said that the objective of the policy statement is to politicise the Supreme Court’s judgment only. Parliament, he said, does not decide the judicial cases and the courts’ decisions should not be discussed here.
“Today Zardari sahib is going to sacrifice the prime minister to cover up his corruption … Who will be next?” he said, just before lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches began a battle of slogans: “Prime Minister Gilani, Prime Minister Gilani” and “Go Gilani Go”.
The leader of opposition continued to criticise the government on not implementing Supreme Court’s orders and reiterated that, in line with democratic norms, the prime minister should resign from his post.
“There is no need to beat about the bush. The premier should quit parliament,” he said.
Naek also informed the National Assembly that the government will ask for a review of the court’s decision once it issues a detailed judgment of the case.
He said that all cases against former premier Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari were closed down on merit in 2008.
Naek observed the apex court’s verdict could not be implemented as it was framed under “civil contempt”, which punishes the person when he/she disobeys the court.
“Premier Gilani never ridiculed the judiciary but today’s judgment contains reference to ridicule of the court. So, the Supreme Court’s decision has not disqualified the prime minister from being a member of Parliament.”
On this point, the NA speaker requested the slogan-chanting members to respect the decorum of the House, which provided an opportunity to Leader of Opposition to continue his speech.
“If you (the government) don’t want to implement the court’s order then let us go to the people for fresh elections. Let’s provide people another chance to elect their representatives again,” said Nisar.
Proceedings were adjourned till Friday (today).
(Read: In contempt!)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.
As expected, the Supreme Court’s verdict against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani remained the bone of contention between the government and opposition during Thursday’s session of the National Assembly.
While the opposition continued its call for Prime Minister Gilani’s immediate resignation, the government said the premier would continue in office.
Notably, NA Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza, with whom the decision to initiate disqualification proceedings ostensibly lies, did not speak a single word on the issue during the entire session.
The opposition members, who entered 40 minutes late, carefully listened to the policy statement given by Law and Justice Minister Farooq H Naek. But just as he concluded his policy statement that Gilani would continue as the prime minister of Pakistan, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said: “Mr Gilani should go to the court – prove his innocence first. Then come back to the Parliament. We will welcome [him then].”
Replying to Nisar’s remarks, Naek said: “You asked the prime minister to go to the court to prove his virtuousness. I say Yousaf Raza Gilani is our prime minister and will continue to work as prime minister of Pakistan.”
Referring to the court’s verdict, Naek said: “Madam Speaker, you have the prerogative to decide the prime minister’s fate. You are the final arbiter.”
“Everybody expects justice from the courts but here [Zardari sahib] is a victim of justice because there is no trial against the president in Switzerland,” he added.
On this point, Nisar said that the objective of the policy statement is to politicise the Supreme Court’s judgment only. Parliament, he said, does not decide the judicial cases and the courts’ decisions should not be discussed here.
“Today Zardari sahib is going to sacrifice the prime minister to cover up his corruption … Who will be next?” he said, just before lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches began a battle of slogans: “Prime Minister Gilani, Prime Minister Gilani” and “Go Gilani Go”.
The leader of opposition continued to criticise the government on not implementing Supreme Court’s orders and reiterated that, in line with democratic norms, the prime minister should resign from his post.
“There is no need to beat about the bush. The premier should quit parliament,” he said.
Naek also informed the National Assembly that the government will ask for a review of the court’s decision once it issues a detailed judgment of the case.
He said that all cases against former premier Benazir Bhutto and President Zardari were closed down on merit in 2008.
Naek observed the apex court’s verdict could not be implemented as it was framed under “civil contempt”, which punishes the person when he/she disobeys the court.
“Premier Gilani never ridiculed the judiciary but today’s judgment contains reference to ridicule of the court. So, the Supreme Court’s decision has not disqualified the prime minister from being a member of Parliament.”
On this point, the NA speaker requested the slogan-chanting members to respect the decorum of the House, which provided an opportunity to Leader of Opposition to continue his speech.
“If you (the government) don’t want to implement the court’s order then let us go to the people for fresh elections. Let’s provide people another chance to elect their representatives again,” said Nisar.
Proceedings were adjourned till Friday (today).
(Read: In contempt!)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.