Sindh Assembly: PPP ministers declare April 26 as ‘black day’
Term it as a “blot” on the face of democracy.
KARACHI:
Pakistan Peoples Party ministers heaped scorn at a Supreme Court decision to convict Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani over his refusal to reopen a graft probe against the president. The court found the premier guilty of contempt, a decision the PPP ministers in the Sindh Assembly have termed a “blot” on the face of democracy. In their collective opinion, April 26 “was a day of infamy – a black day”. “Enough is enough. They (the judiciary and establishment) have always been hot-tempered and unkind. We (the PPP) are cool-tempered and follow the law. But we cannot tolerate this any longer and want to warn them that as you sow so shall you reap,” were the exact words of PPP leaders in their speeches during a Sindh Assembly session on Thursday. Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri gave an emotional speech against the verdict and said that Prime Minister Gilani was convicted by the court for not violating any law. The court, in fact, she added, attempted to force him to violate the law by writing a letter to Swiss authorities against the president. “But I want to make it clear, that the black faces cannot be turned white,” Marri said, adding that the judiciary has always legitimised actions taken by dictators and has always victimised PPP leaders. She said that despite the fact that PPP has faced a tough time at the hands of the judiciary, the party will not be let down and will seek justice. “We will go forward because those who love the gallows for strengthening the democracy should not be afraid of this kind of discretion,” she said. Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that while the prime minister respected the judiciary, it seems that these “salaried persons” (judges) did not reciprocate in giving the same honour to the elected prime minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.
Pakistan Peoples Party ministers heaped scorn at a Supreme Court decision to convict Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani over his refusal to reopen a graft probe against the president. The court found the premier guilty of contempt, a decision the PPP ministers in the Sindh Assembly have termed a “blot” on the face of democracy. In their collective opinion, April 26 “was a day of infamy – a black day”. “Enough is enough. They (the judiciary and establishment) have always been hot-tempered and unkind. We (the PPP) are cool-tempered and follow the law. But we cannot tolerate this any longer and want to warn them that as you sow so shall you reap,” were the exact words of PPP leaders in their speeches during a Sindh Assembly session on Thursday. Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri gave an emotional speech against the verdict and said that Prime Minister Gilani was convicted by the court for not violating any law. The court, in fact, she added, attempted to force him to violate the law by writing a letter to Swiss authorities against the president. “But I want to make it clear, that the black faces cannot be turned white,” Marri said, adding that the judiciary has always legitimised actions taken by dictators and has always victimised PPP leaders. She said that despite the fact that PPP has faced a tough time at the hands of the judiciary, the party will not be let down and will seek justice. “We will go forward because those who love the gallows for strengthening the democracy should not be afraid of this kind of discretion,” she said. Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that while the prime minister respected the judiciary, it seems that these “salaried persons” (judges) did not reciprocate in giving the same honour to the elected prime minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.