KARACHI: National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza has decided against forwarding a disqualification reference against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Gilani to the Election Commission of Pakistan after his conviction by the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case,Media reported.
In a five page ruling released on Thursday, the NA speaker says that no question of PM Gilani’s disqualification arises according to Article 63 of the Constitution and in light of the apex court’s verdict.She further says in her ruling that there is no need to forward the disqualification reference against PM Gilani to the ECP as the SC had not raised the issue of his disqualification in the verdict.
According to Article 63(2) of the Constitution, the speaker has to decide on the prime minister’s disqualification.The article reads: “If any question arises whether a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament) has become disqualified from being a member, the speaker or, as the case may be, the chairman shall, unless he decides that no such question has arisen, refer the question to the Election Commission within 30 days and should he fail to do so within the aforesaid period it shall be deemed to have been referred to the Election Commission.”
To read a copy of the NA Speaker’s ruling, click here.Gilani was convicted for contempt of court on April 26 for not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Sources say the prime minister is expected to file an appeal against the apex court’s decision today. – Dawn
