Judicial meddling makes elections useless: Gilani
Former premier says judiciary ‘running a controlled democracy’.
MULTAN:
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that elections have been rendered useless because the judiciary now makes the decisions of the executive and interferes with the decisions of the government.
Hitting out at the Supreme Court over its National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) judgement that saw him disqualified as a member of the National Assembly earlier this year, Gilani said: “There is no need for elections since the judges want to govern the country on their own.”
While talking to media during an Iftar ceremony given in the honour of journalists of Multan, Gilani said that if decision’s regarding the fate of the prime ministers will be taken by the judges then elections are a mere drama.
“We have fought many dictators but it seems that the judiciary is the dictator today,” he contended.
“If you ask me, I will surely go for a protest at all levels against judicial oppression in the country.”
He added that the prospects of a stable Pakistan would diminish if incumbent Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who is also Gilani’s successor, is sacked. “If Ashraf asked me for advice, I will say reject their orders. Judiciary is the constitutional unconstitutionally,” asserted Gilani.
He was of the view that the judiciary has declared itself the custodians of sovereignty of the country and is directly interfering in all internal affairs of the government.
“The law of necessity used by the judiciary has not only destroyed Pakistan but has also jolted the country and its sovereignty. It seems they are nourishing the concept of controlled democracy. Today I want to reveal that we are not an independent nation because we are forced to follow their unconstitutional orders. And my sacking was unconstitutional.”
He demanded that if all orders are referred to parliament for endorsement then the executive order which reinstated the judiciary should also be referred to parliament for endorsement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that elections have been rendered useless because the judiciary now makes the decisions of the executive and interferes with the decisions of the government.
Hitting out at the Supreme Court over its National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) judgement that saw him disqualified as a member of the National Assembly earlier this year, Gilani said: “There is no need for elections since the judges want to govern the country on their own.”
While talking to media during an Iftar ceremony given in the honour of journalists of Multan, Gilani said that if decision’s regarding the fate of the prime ministers will be taken by the judges then elections are a mere drama.
“We have fought many dictators but it seems that the judiciary is the dictator today,” he contended.
“If you ask me, I will surely go for a protest at all levels against judicial oppression in the country.”
He added that the prospects of a stable Pakistan would diminish if incumbent Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who is also Gilani’s successor, is sacked. “If Ashraf asked me for advice, I will say reject their orders. Judiciary is the constitutional unconstitutionally,” asserted Gilani.
He was of the view that the judiciary has declared itself the custodians of sovereignty of the country and is directly interfering in all internal affairs of the government.
“The law of necessity used by the judiciary has not only destroyed Pakistan but has also jolted the country and its sovereignty. It seems they are nourishing the concept of controlled democracy. Today I want to reveal that we are not an independent nation because we are forced to follow their unconstitutional orders. And my sacking was unconstitutional.”
He demanded that if all orders are referred to parliament for endorsement then the executive order which reinstated the judiciary should also be referred to parliament for endorsement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.