A file photo of former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani. PHOTO: AFP
Former prime minister and senior PPP leader Yousaf Raza Gilani reaffirmed on Friday that he enjoyed immunity under the Constitution.
He suggested that if Senate and the National Assembly abolish Article 248 of the Constitution, he would be ready to surrender to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Talking to reporters at his residence in Multan Gilani confirmed receiving a notice from the NAB and said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders had been receiving such notices in the past too.
Gilani said NAB chairman was himself wanted in cases, so how could he lead an inquiry.
“I am not afraid of this notice as neither jails nor torture cells can daunt me,” he added.
Gilani reminded that he had undergone punishment for 10 years during the Musharraf rule without committing any wrongdoing.
“I forgave Pervez Musharraf for imprisoning me, but I want to ask the people who kept us locked for ten years, has any dictator ever gone to jail, did Musharraf spend even a single day in prison,” Gilani said.
He reminded that retired admiral Mansoorul Haq came back from USA but never went to prison.
“I am sent to jail before every election,” the PPP leader said.
PPP would participate in the local bodies elections whether he was behind bars or not.
Regarding the NRO, Gilani said over 4,000 people reaped its benefits but only one individual was punished under it.
On political victimisation Gilani said he was declared ineligible from holding public office, his sons were framed in fake cases and one was kidnapped too.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2013.
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