NA Speaker abused her position, says Nisar
Leader of opposition says Mirza has become part of a group bent upon disobeying SC’s verdict against Gilani.
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.
"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.