SC issues notices in petitions challenging Speaker’s ruling

Prime Minister Gilani, Speaker NA, ECP issued notices for June 14.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza and the Election Commission of Pakistan for June 14 in identical petitions filed against the speaker’s ruling in the PM contempt case.

The petitions, including those filed by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), challenged the speaker’s ruling and demanded prime minister’s disqualification after he was convicted of contempt by the apex court.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, hearing the petitions, observed that the judgement in the contempt case is now a conceded judgement as the prime minister did not file any written or verbal appeal against the verdict even after the lapse of 30 days.

The bench further expressed surprise over how the prime minister could himself stay stigmatised, while the ruling government brought about the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto case to the court even after its execution in efforts to remove stigma from his name.

Advocate AK Dogar told the court that the speaker National Assembly violated the orders as Article 63(2)(g) of the Constitution, after the passage of 18th Amendment, clearly mentions that a member is disqualified after being convicted.