Ephedrine case: Former premier hits out at govt over son’s arrest
The former premier appears to have fallen out of favour with the top boss of the ruling party.
He is back from the Presidency, to his hometown of Multan.
In an abrupt tirade against his own party’s government, former prime minister and vice-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Yousaf Raza Gilani, said he decided to leave the President House the day his son was arrested in ephedrine quota case.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Lahore on Saturday, Gilani said he left the Presidency when things became intolerable for him. He didn’t say anything against President Asif Ali Zardari in particular, but was visibly irked by the government’s inaction over the arrest of his son Ali Musa Gilani, who was later released on bail.
“The government seemed helpless over the arrest of my son,” Gilani said, adding that Ali Musa was arrested while he (Gilani) was living at the Presidency.
The former premier said there were no political prisoners while he was the prime minster, but his son was made a political prisoner right after his departure from the office.
Gilani was still all praise for the president.
“I lived in the President House for four months and I have no complaint against the president,” he said, adding he was thankful to the president for hosting him.
Gilani said he had not informed President Zardari about his departure from the presidency. He said he has no contact with the President House at present, and is spending time with his family.
Media reports, however, add that Gilani is disappointed over the removal of bureaucrats, he had appointed, by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. Reports said he had also informed the president about his reservations.
At the press conference, Gilani said he still adheres to his stance that the president enjoys immunity, and that a letter to Swiss authorities without mentioning the immunity clause would amount to treason.
The former premier also hit out at the opposition saying it should have respected parliament and its opinion, and that parliament is dishonoured when its resolutions are not respected.
(With additional input from Agencies)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2012.
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Prosecution of Gilani for 40000 pounds check?
You Mr Gilani, under what rules or authority, on the last day of your stay in the Prime minister house, you gave a checque of forty thousand pounds ( $ 40000/=) to a federal bureaucrat, (whose name was being mentioned in the Eupheridine case) for his medical treatment abroad for a disease never mentioned or known to anyone? Is it not a case of corruption through greasing ones palms for some ulterior purpose? And as for your often repeated comments on your own past deeds as PM, now it is better for you to keep mum on your style of politics, because the more you speak on it, the more commit historical mistakes which make inside-people just laugh at you. Therefore please observe silence as enough is enough.
The people of Pakistan really miss you Mr. Gilani! and can you imagine, after all your dedicated, loyal and persistent LOOTING of Pakistan for so many years, this is how they reward you.. Ohhh, the injustice to the Gilani family. I hope they catch all of you, including all your sons, yourself, your wife and manage to get the money you looted from the people of Pakistan and put you guys in jail for a really long time. Mr. Gilani the people of pakistan don't give a damn about your criminal sons and yourself including your pleas.. And finally welcome to the real PPP.
So much concern about his son who has cases of corruption against him, what about the people of Pakistan...
@Trace: sorry to say, but your (PML-N) nerves are totally broken by PTI.
He has now realised that he was a sacrificial goat in the party.He can not show disappointment for the removal of bureacrats appointed by him. He must remember that he told the SC that appointment of bureacrats is the right of the executive.
He had a legal right to appeal decison of his disqualification but somehow somebody disuaded him from exercising right of appeal.
His son was simply arrested and immediately released on bail.He did not go to prison.
Mr Gilani its time for you to launch your own Party ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Politics being the last refuge of ...?
@hassan: Seriously? I hope that was a joke. We dont want him.
@hassan: Sorry, General Pasha is retired now!!!!!!!!
Hopefully he wakes up and realizes that he was just another pawn in the game.
Why don't you leave then ? Who is stopping you ?