Supreme Court Ruling Does Not Deal With Disqualification: Gilani

Islamabad, May 1, IRNA – Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said here Monday conviction in contempt case against him is not related to disqualification. The apex court convicted Gilani for 'willful flouting and disregard' to repeated court orders to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. A seven-member bench handed down a symbolic sentence of nearly 30 seconds till the rising of the court. Shortly after the court’s verdict, main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and other opposition parties called for Gilani’s resignation. The opposition lawmakers have staged walkout of the National Assembly’s session as the Prime Minister entered the house. Talking to reporters Gilani said that the 30-second detention did not have anything to do with disqualification. He said that the opposition should “show some patience” because he had the right to appeal his conviction in the court. The prime minister said that the regulation of the house was the Speaker’s prerogative and that if the speaker, Dr. Fehmida Mirza, disqualifies him he will join the “people of Pakistan”. Gilani said that former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, when found guilty of the charges against him did not resign and continued with his job and questioned the gathering as to why he was asked to resign on “moral grounds”. He said, “Some say why did I not tender a resignation on the basis of morality, I ask, was I convicted for committing any acts of moral turpitude? I was only convicted because I acted according to the Constitution.” Gilani said that he was “totally independent” and enjoyed immunity while discharging his duties. “I respect the court which is why I went there thrice. Those who do not like to respect the courts had reservations the first time they were summoned.” He said that when he was imprisoned, he received various “similar offers” but never paid heed to them. “I spent 10 years of life in jail. I was jailed only because I gave jobs to the people of Pakistan and at that time too, I had told the court that if giving employment to the people is a crime then I will commit this crime again and again.”/end