Posts Tagged ‘Imran khan’

Hitting back: PM laughs off street agitation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani delivered a scathing riposte to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Sunday over their back-to-back public rallies in support of the superior judiciary.

Even if Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan join hands, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party  (PPP) is “popular enough to defeat their alliance”, Gilani told office-bearers of the Lahore Press Club at his residence. The prime minister also accused the two parties of inciting street agitation through their actions and reminded the PML-N chief that his party was violating the Charter of Democracy.

Nawaz had invited the PTI to join his movement to oust Premier Gilani following his conviction by the apex court. But Imran says his party would join hands with the PML-N only if its lawmakers resign en masse from parliament and the provincial legislatures – both unacceptable preconditions for the Sharif brothers.

The two parties are now leading street protests separately.

Premier Gilani said it was he and President Asif Ali Zardari who faced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with courage while the Sharif brothers “fled the country after signing a deal with the dictator”.

The PPP leadership would do the same, whenever needed, and the Sharif brothers would again escape from the country, he added.

He called upon the Sharif brothers to apologise to the nation for “concealing their agreement with Musharraf and telling lies for ten years”.

The premier laughed off Sunday’s public rally of the PML-N in Taxila, saying that “my son can stage bigger rallies for them”.

Describing the PML-N’s street protests as realpolitik, Gilani challenged them to resign from the assemblies and he would announce snap polls. “If the PML-N leadership has courage, they should ask their lawmakers to resign from the assemblies en bloc and I will announce by-polls the same day,” he said.

The prime minister said that if the opposition wanted to unseat him, they ought to table a no-confidence motion in parliament. He insisted that he could not be forced to relinquish his post. “Nobody can remove me from my office through any undemocratic or unconstitutional method as there is a constitutional procedure for the removal of a prime minister,” he added.

He also reminded Nawaz of the Charter of Democracy he had signed with slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. The two leaders had agreed to uphold the cause of democracy in the country. “The PML-N is a signatory to the Charter of Democracy, so why is it staging a long march (against a democratic government?” he asked.

He vowed not to relent to the opposition pressure and step down voluntarily. He said that only parliament could de-notify him. If the apex court disqualifies me in its detailed judgment, even then the National Assembly speaker will decide my fate, he added.

Referring to the Pakistan Bar Council’s statement, the premier said that all bar councils of the country have endorsed the PPP’s stance on this matter.

(Read: From among our many wounds)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2012.

Corrupt ruling mafia will never accept an independent CJ: Imran

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PTI held a large rally in the capital Islamabad in support of the judiciary.– File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan said that President Asif Ali Zardari is responsible for the drone attacks being conducted in Pakistan. He further said that Nawaz Sharif should resign first from the assemblies if he is serious about launching a anti-government march.

Imran Khan said that the corrupt ruling mafia will never accept an independent Chief Justice.

He said that Nawaz Sharif should act like a real lion rather than a fake one and ask his party to resign from the national and provincial assemblies.

Criticising the prime minister, Imran Khan said that a layman cannot eat one meal in a day, while Prime Minister Gilani is working to protect the money of a robber rather than saving the assets of the people.

Imran Khan also warned that democracy will be greatly damaged if an independent judiciary was destroyed. The PTI chief further said that today’s gathering is preparation for a tsunami march.

“If Asif Zardari does not hold illegal money why doesn’t he write a letter to the Swiss authorities,” said Imran Khan.

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Via DAWN.com

DPC leader fears Nato supplies will be resumed

Khalil expects Nato supplies to be resumed by the government by the middle of this month and before the summit in Chicago. “We are aware that the government has already taken a decision to this effect. May 17 has been fixed as the final date for the resumption of Nato supplies through Pakistan.”

But the Difa-e-Pakistan Council says it will not stand back while the supplies are restored. Khalil is confident that he can whip up a frenzy over the case.

“We oppose the restoration of Nato supplies as it is obvious that the weapons will be used against Pakistan. DPC will use each and every method to force the government to reverse its decision.”

When asked about the kind of measures he had in mind, Khalil said “we will adopt legal and constitutional means. DPC will organise a long march from every corner of the country towards Islamabad.”

Even though the unanimously passed parliamentary committee’s recommendations state that the route will be used for ‘non-lethal’ goods only, Khalil remains pessimistic.

“What is the logic for piling up arms in the region when Washington has already announced its decision to pull out its troops from Afghanistan in 2014.”

He refuted reports claiming the Difa-e-Pakistan Council to be a product of intelligence agencies to voice anti-US sentiments.

Khalil, who is also the current leader of another group Ansar-ul Ummah, says: “It has become part of the political culture to brand every new organisation as the product of intelligence agencies. Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf was also dubbed as their brainchild by political rivals.”

He does not agree with the opinion that militants in Fata who are from other regions besides Pakistan should be asked to surrender their arms.

Criticising Balochistan-based Pashtun nationalist leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s comments that foreign nationals should be given permanent residence subject to their willingness to surrender weapons, Khalil said: “It will be an unfair deal, as each and every person in the tribal area is allowed to carry arms.”

He feels it is not the Afghan nationals and Pashtuns from other regions that are causing unrest in tribal areas, but the government’s pro-US policies. “They are being dubbed as terrorists by the US because they are the ones fighting foreign invaders in Afghanistan.”

Khalil says that after targeting the al Qaeda leadership, Washington is now gearing up against Muslim militants in Pakistan – head money on Hafiz Saeed being part of this initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2012.

PTI holds solidarity walk with judiciary today

ISLAMABAD – Supporting the decision of the Supreme Court against the contempt of court of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would hold solidarity walk with judiciary today (Sunday). Chairman PTI Imran Khan would lead the walk on Sunday. All the organisations of PTI Khyber Pakhtnkhwa including women wing would participate in solidarity walk. According to the …

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PML-N protest movement: ‘This is a war to save Supreme Court’

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) launched its protest movement against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s refusal to step down after his conviction in a contempt case. The first rally was held in Taxila on Saturday addressed by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif who termed the movement as a “war to save the Supreme Court”.

Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, also present at the gathering, boasted that the Taxila rally was organised within a notice of three days and this was just the “trailer”. After boasting about the party’s achievements during its tenure, Chaudhry Nisar went on to bash the ruling government as well as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

“The ones who talk about bringing a revolution – they won’t bring any revolution, they can only bring agony. Ask them what their policy is about Kashmir, about labourers, about farmers and about the US. He [PTI chairman Imran Khan] comes on stages with his rote-learned speeches and starts accusing us,” he stated.

The leader of the opposition added after the Supreme Court indicted Gilani, Imran Khan said that he will wait for a detailed order and Gilani, in return, started appreciating him.

Chaudhry Nisar left the stage with chants of “Go Gilani Go” while Nawaz Sharif took the rostrum as participants chanted “Dekho dekho, kon aya? Sher aya, Sher aya”.

“We were willing to be a part of the government to help it move forward… But you tell me: Will you sit in a car which has an inexperienced driver? This government claims of completing its five year tenure, but what has it achieved in these five years,” Nawaz Sharif questioned.

It was earlier reported that besides the protest, the party will also be focusing on its election campaign in Taxila – a constituency from which Chaudhry Nisar has been elected six times. But, Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the rally, stated that he did not come to the city for an election campaign. “We have come here for the security and survival of Pakistan… We are here for the future of our children.”

The party chief went on to comment on the deteriorating law and order situation of various areas of the country. “Is there anyone who cares about Lyari? Or the security situation of Karachi or Balochistan?” he further questioned.

“This is a war to save the Supreme Court,” Nawaz Sharif stated.

Following the Supreme Court’s indictment of Gilani, several parties, including the PML-N, protested against the premier demanding him to step down from his post.

The PML-N has continued to protest in the National Assembly sessions and boycotted the Senate’s debate on President Asif Ali Zardari’s address. The party has stated that it will continue with such protests till Gilani resigns from his post.

MQM’s reaction

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Haidar Abbas Rizvi has said that the opposition parties, including the PML-N, must wait for the final detailed verdict of the Supreme Court before taking any decision.

Talking to a private news channel, Rizvi said that the prime minister still has the right to appeal in the case.

He added that democracy gives every political party the right to protest to highlight its stance, however, responsibilities should be taken into consideration and the assembly sessions should not be halted.

Rizvi further said that there is no option for a third force to intervene in the present democratic setup.

ANP’s reaction

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Senator Afrasiyab Khattak said that the announcement of a long march by PML-N in the present political situation is an ‘irresponsible decision’.

Talking to a private news channel, he said if any party is considering a change in the country, it should be brought through a democratic and constitutional way.

Senator Khattak stated that the resolution on the creation of South Punjab province has been passed according to the Constitution and it has been passed in the National Assembly while the Provincial Assembly has also been asked to introduce a resolution on it.

Qamar Zaman Kaira

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) does not need an interpretation of the Supreme Court’s short order in prime minister’s contempt case by Sharif brothers and Chaudhry Nisar.

Talking to media in Murree after inaugurating the 15th conference on Ophthalmology, Kaira said, “We only accept the interpretation of the public, and PPP is enjoying full support and mandate of the public.”

The minister said that all the political allies have expressed confidence in Gilani, and further advised the Sharif brothers to do politics on real issues being faced by the countries rather than trying to influence the court.

PM contempt: PTI to launch Mashaal Tsunami

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is all set to launch its ‘Mashaal Tsunami’ in an attempt to force the government to implement the Supreme Court’s orders regarding Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s conviction in a contempt case. The campaign will kick off with a walk in favour of the judiciary in Islamabad on Saturday.

Party workers started will walk from Mr Books Super Market to the official residency of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, PTI leaders told The Express Tribune, adding that the campaign will officially start at 6:30pm today.

PTI Women Wing President Fauzia Kasuri and party leader Sardar Azhar Tariq will lead the rally.

They will ‘pay tribute to the Chief Justice of Pakistan on taking bold steps for the supremacy of justice in Pakistan’.

The party will stage a big march on Sunday, which will move from China Chowk to D Chowk. PTI Chairman Imran Khan will lead the rally.

“It will be a big show to show solidarity with the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” said PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood.

PTI leaders will address the participants around evening on Sunday, he added.

The party is expecting tens of thousands of people to attend the march.

Gilani had earlier been convicted in a contempt case by the Supreme Court after he refused to write letters to Swiss authorities asking them to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Opposition and other political parties have since then demanded that Gilani step down as prime minister.

‘Thousands to take part in pro-judiciary rally’

PESHAWAR, May 2: Thousands of workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would take part in the rally of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf on May 6 in Islamabad to show solidarity with the judiciary, said party leader Iftikhar Khan Jhagra.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said that a large number of workers would move towards Islamabad to rally in favour of the ‘historical’ verdict by the Supreme Court wherein Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani was convicted in a contempt case. A separate rally would also be held near Peshawar High Court the same day to express solidarity with the judiciary for taking such bold decisions, Mr Jhagra said.
He said that prime minister should obey the order of the court in the best interest of democracy and country as no one was above the law. He said that membership drive of PTI was in full swing in the provincial metropolis. “The membership target was five million in the country but it was increased to 10 million owing to enthusiasm of people,” he added.
Flanked by Khawaja Mohammad Khan Hoti, Pervez Khattak, Iqbal Hussain Khattak and Shah Farman, he dispelled the impression that there was a rift among senior leaders of the party.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hoti said that he supported Imran Khan only for the stand he had taken against corruption.
“In case he fails to fulfil his commitment, the people including me will leave him,” he said. —Bureau Report

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Via DAWN.com

‘Tsunami’ march: Imran threatens protest if Gilani fails to step down

ISLAMABAD: Calling it a ‘tsunami march’, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said the party will launch Pakistan’s largest protest against Gilani if he refuses to accept his disqualification, Express News reported on Tuesday.

“We will wait until the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) completes the process of Gilani’s disqualification, said Imran, adding his party doesn’t consider him the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Speaking during a press conference, Imran also acknowledged Gilani’s right to appeal against the court verdict and said that the party will respond only after all the legal processes are completed.

Gilani was convicted on April 26 with contempt of court charges for not writing a letter to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The chairman of PTI also said that he would talk to Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) only if their members resign from government in the centre and in Punjab.

Imran further announced that a three-member committee consisting of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, PTI President Javed Hashmi and Dr Arif Alvi has been formed to hold talks with leaders of different political parties regarding future course of action.

Imran Khan to move SC against PM’s eligibility

Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf  (PTI) decided to file a reference to the Supreme Court of Pakistan against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani eligibility for premiership, PTI sources said Tuesday. The decision was  taken during the meeting of PTI Central Working Committee headed by Imran Khan. According to the sources, the PTI would file the reference regarding the qualification of the prime …

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Nawaz to PM: quit or face movement

ISLAMABAD, April 30: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz announced on Monday that it would launch a ‘protest movement’ against the government, but gave no plan or a roadmap for its execution.

“Comply with the Supreme Court’s order, quit the prime minister’s office or face protest movement. This is the final verdict of the PML-N and the gist of today’s meeting,” Nawaz Sharif said at a press conference after presiding over a joint meeting of the party’s central working committee and parliamentary group.

The meeting was convened to devise a strategy in the aftermath of last week’s conviction of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by the Supreme Court on contempt charges for not writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen a money-laundering case against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Accompanied by senior party members, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the PML-N chief said his party had decided to ask the Election Commission to clear its position on the issue of the prime minister’s disqualification after his conviction.

He said it was unfortunate that a ‘convicted’ prime minister was adamant to ‘cling to power’.

“If people do not come out (in streets), there will be chaos and anarchy in the country,” Mr Sharif warned. He urged lawyers, traders, students and civil society organisations to join hands to save the nation. “I invite all political parties to come out to save Pakistan,” he said, adding that parties should rise above political and election interests. He said those who did not come out to save the country would be committing treason.

In reply to a question, Mr Sharif showed his readiness to even talk to Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, who has been savaging the Sharif brothers in public meetings and in the media.

“We will contact Imran Khan. We will contact Jamaat-i-Islami and will approach the true and real successors of Benazir Bhutto.

We will contact Naheed Khan (former political secretary of Ms Bhutto) and Aftab Sherpao. We are launching a strong protest movement (against the government) inside and outside parliament,” he said, adding that the objective of the movement was to establish rule of law, and not to acquire power.

He said there was a feeling within the party that there was a ‘do-or-die’ situation and the time had come to play the role it had done at the time of the movement for restoration of deposed judges in 2009.

In reply to a question, the PML-N chief did not rule out the option of en mass resignation from the assemblies and said all options were under review. “If the rulers do not spare the life of people, there will be a long march.”

He avoided giving a timeframe or deadline for the long march despite repeated questions by reporters.

Sources in the PML-N told Dawn that the issue of en mass resignation had been discussed at the meeting, which lasted almost four hours.

The party was divided on the issue. Hawkish elements favoured quitting the assemblies to force the government to hold elections. Others said they should not leave the field open for the government.

It was through a show of hands that the party leadership came to the conclusion that they should not immediately resign from the assemblies and use the option at an appropriate time, the sources said. According to them, Marvi Memon, who attended the meeting on special invitation, suggested that the party should form committees in districts and cities to mobilise the masses.

Enver Baig, a new entrant to the party and a former PPP senator, suggested that the PML-N leadership should approach the diplomatic corps in Islamabad to apprise them of the prime minister’s legal status after the apex court’s verdict.

An aggressive Khawaja Saad Rafiq lashed out at President Asif Zardari and said he was an “untrustworthy man who does not understand the language of decency”.

Other prominent speakers at the meeting were Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Sabir Shah, Zafar Ali Shah and Ghous Ali Shah. The PML-N secretary general, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, told Dawn that the party had prepared a schedule for rallies and public meetings across the country and it would be released to the media in a day or two.

He said the party’s movement was not aimed at removing the prime minister, but forcing the rulers to implement the court’s orders by writing a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen the case against the President.

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Via DAWN.com

Conviction has nothing to do with disqualification: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Amid demands that he should step down, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that the conviction in the contempt case against him is not related to disqualification.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Gilani said that the 30-second detention which, will also “qualify a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records”, 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.”

Lashing out at Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s (PML-N) response to his conviction, he said, “I ask today, how Nawaz Sharif managed the long journey from Adiala Prison to Jeddah.”

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.”

The premier said that he was digging up old cases against the Sharif brothers and that they were brought back to people’s attention by Asghar Khan and Imran Khan.

“Imran Khan proved to be better than the Sharif brothers in this regard,” said Gilani. “They were scared that before them no one else could launch a long march. They did not even wait for the decision. Forget about long march, they cannot even carry out a short march.”

Gilani said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf president Javed Hashmi had met him at his nephew’s wedding and he said that his party will take a decision only when the court decides something.

He further said that the Sharif brothers had also become party in the hearing of the Memogate scandal and could not succeed in ousting the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government.

The prime minister said that he did not know of any such law which gave the court the authority to disqualify a democratically elected prime minister. To express himself better, he also read out a couplet by Ghalib:

Be khudi besabab nahin hai Ghalib, [This unconscious state - not without cause or reason, Ghalib]

Kuch toh hai jiski parda dari hai [There's something here that's surely being veiled.]

PPP need no judgment from ‘Sharif courts’: Kaira

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will avail the right to appeal in the prime minister’s conviction case and does not need any judgment from the ‘Sharif courts.’

Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House, he said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is not ready to accept PPP’s right to appeal and has started browbeating even before the detailed judgment of the prime minister’s contempt case.

“Nawaz Sharif himself had sought remedy after nine years from the court after being convicted in a plane hijacking case. Let the PPP also get justice from the court of law,” he added.

The PPP government has already implemented the judgment of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) except for one clause, said the minister. The PPP has deferred the implementation on the clause and not rejected it either, he added.

Criticising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Kaira said that he is exploiting the situation. “Nawaz Sharif also acted in haste in the memo case and he is committing the same mistake by threatening to lead a long march,” he added.

The PPP has a history of holding long marches, while being in the opposition, said the information minister. Referring to the long march of PML-N he said cause of their long march is not restoration of judges.

He said the PPP will never allow return of nineties politics. By threatening the government, Nawaz Sharif has accepted Imran Khan as a leader, said the minister.

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Via DAWN.com

PM’s conviction: PPP loyalists spill into streets, record dissent

Around 200 Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activists staged a protest outside the Lahore Press Club where they hoisted party flags and chanted slogans against the judiciary.

“We are with the prime minister who restored the Constitution and reinstated the present judiciary,” one of the banners read.

Federal Minister Sameena Khalid Ghurki while addressing protesters said that besides the National Assembly speaker, no one has the right to unseat the premier.

She said that instead of giving a lesson in ethics, the PML-N should move a no-confidence movement against the prime minister in the house.

PPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Punjab Assembly Shaukat Basra, while addressing a news conference, said that the court’s ruling was in clear violation of the Constitution, so the judges should immediately resign.

Multan protests

Protests both against and for the Supreme Court’s verdict continued for a second day in Multan, the prime minister’s hometown.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers as well as members of civil society and lawyers separately organised protests in the city in favour of the verdict and also burnt an effigy of the prime minister for disrespecting the Supreme Court.

PTI leader Tariq Naeemullah said the Supreme Court’s verdict was like a cool breeze for the people of Pakistan. Lawyers also vowed to support the apex court and said that they would stage a long march in this regard.

On the other hand, rallies were also taken out in favour of the prime minister by PPP supporters. Participants vowed to stand by the prime minister through thick and thin.

In Faisalabad, hundreds of PPP activists staged a rally to express solidarity with Prime Minister Gilani, during which they chanted slogans against the PML-N and the Punjab chief minister.

Protests in Sindh

PPP workers poured out on the streets in large numbers in several cities of Sindh, including Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin and Tharparker.

Protesters chanted slogans in support of the beleaguered prime minister: “Teri Raza, Meri Raza, Yousuf Raza, Yousuf Raza”.

Leaders from different political wings of the party reminded the judiciary that the PPP was at the front of the movement launched for their restoration.

Meanwhile, an attempt of self-immolation by a few workers of the Sindh Peoples Student Federation outside the Hyderabad Press Club was thwarted.

Peshawar protests

In Peshawar, angry protesters also lashed out at the judiciary, the Sharif brothers and PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

PPP senior leaders, including former minister for states and frontier regions (Safron) and MNA Najamudin Khan and other leaders also participated in the rally.

PPP activists in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) also staged a demonstration in favour of the prime minister in Mohmand Agency.

The protest was led by PPP-Fata president Malik Waris Khan Afridi, who said that “tribal people favour prime minister of Pakistan because he had issued orders for reforms and development projects in Fata.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2012.

Post-conviction: Gilani challenges PML-N to unseat him

In a strong-worded speech, not only did Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani rubbish calls to step down, but also challenged the opposition to remove him if they wanted him gone.

“I challenge them to bring a vote of no-confidence against me,” he said, referring to the main opposition party – the Pak­istan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which has led the calls for him to resign. “I am an elected prime minister, representing 180 million people. How can anybody order an elected prime minister to go home?” said a visibly relaxed prime minister. “Only the speaker, who is the custodian of this house, has the authority to decide.”

He also continued to defend his actions, saying his conscience was clear over not writing the Swiss letter, as ordered by the court.

“I have not committed a crime, I have done nothing wrong but I have protected the Constitution,” he said and urged Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza to apply her “own mind” and “own legal assessment” on the case.

Addressing the speaker, Gilani said: “I will step down only if you de-notify me. I will accept it if this Parliament disqualifies me.”

The premier was accorded a hero’s welcome when he entered the house. Lawmakers from his Pakistan Peoples Party and allied parties first thumped their desks and then went over to his seat to felicitate him. He reportedly said that it was “the first time I am being felicitated over conviction.”

Gilani is the first sitting prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be convicted by a court of law after he refused to write a letter, in compliance with the apex court orders, to the Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

However, the prime minister insisted that he respected the judiciary. “I have the highest regard for the judiciary but presidential immunity is provided by the Constitution and is an international practice,” he said.

Jibing at the PML-N, the premier said the opposition didn’t ask even for once to do away with the presidential immunity while the 18th, 19th and 20th amendments were being made to the Constitution.

Leader of the opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who said on Thursday that he would not allow Gilani to enter the Parliament House, along with other lawmakers from his party, skipped the premier’s speech. Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir Virk was the only PML-N legislator who listened to Gilani’s speech.

The prime minister directed his criticism at the PML-N, taking the Sharif brothers to task for their ‘irrational political approach’.

“One brother (Nawaz Sharif) says he does not accept the prime minister and the other (Shahbaz Sharif) says he does not accept the president … their entire party, on the other hand, discredits Imran Khan… Does this happen in a democracy?” Gilani asked rhetorically.

The premier claimed that his party had offered Nawaz Sharif the premiership, which he turned down because “he knows it is not that easy to run a government.”

“Nawaz has an inflated ego and cannot take allies along… but we treat them (allies) as a family,” he said.

The premier believed that the Sharifs’ party was out to undermine his government. “I am sure they (the PML-N) will not waste a second to unseat me, if they get a slight indication of success,” he said, adding that had his party been in opposition, he would never have done that.

In his speech, the premier also hit out at the judiciary, though indirectly and cautiously. While referring to Thursday’s victory of a PPP candidate in the Multan by-election, he said “there is another court which has reposed its confidence (in PPP) – but you (the Supreme Court), despite having hanged (PPP’s founding chairperson) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, cannot rule the aspirations of the masses.”

(Read: Politics wins over law)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2012.

Contempt of court: Khan, Sharif demand Gilani’s resignation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after he was convicted of contempt of court.

“Prime minister should immediately resign. He should step down without causing further crisis,” PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said live on Geo News, also calling for fresh elections. ”The court’s verdict is based on truth and reality. It must have punished the prime minister with a heavy heart, but the prime minister himself is to be blamed.”

“The prime minister himself invited this situation,” he added.

Sharif said the PML-N will decide its future course of action if Gilani attends parliamentary sessions after the sentence.

PTI chief Imran Khan, holding a press conference stated that Gilani, in light of the Supreme Court order, is no longer the prime minister of Pakistan. “He has lost all moral authority, so he should quit office from today.”

If Gilani doesn’t resign, the PTI will bring out a ‘tsunami march’ which will be the biggest show in the history of Pakistan, the party leaders threatened and added that the media will be briefed about the march after the completion of the legal process in the Supreme Court.

The PTI chief added that Gilani is only standing for the president of the country, rather than standing for the people and criticised all political leaders who joined the prime minister in the Supreme Court. “They are also covering corruption.”

“Who will follow the laws if the chief executive of the government breaches the law,” he added.

PTI leader Hamid Khan rejected the arguments presented by Gilani’s lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan and also called for the attorney general to resign from his post. “He was defending the prime minister without having fulfilled the constitutional obligation.”

JI chief Munawar Hassan also urged the prime minister to quit as he had “lost moral ground” after the judgment.

“The prime minister should have himself declared by now that I am no more prime minister,” he said.

“The Supreme Court sentenced him in an honourable manner and it also got its verdict implemented. He is now a convicted person and he cannot remain prime minister now,” Hassan told Geo.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement calls for meeting

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has called for a meeting of its legal and constitutional experts to discuss the Supreme Court convicting Gilani of contempt charges and will issue a statement after it hears from experts.

Gilani was convicted of contempt of court by the Supreme Court of Pakistan but was given only a token sentence in a case that could still see him thrown out of office.

The Supreme Court found the prime minister guilty of contempt over his refusal to obey an order to write to the authorities in Switzerland to ask them to re-open graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Gilani had faced a maximum sentence of six months in prison, but the court ordered him to be “imprisoned” until the hearing adjourned and he emerged shortly afterwards smiling and waving to supporters.

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