News
Friday, April 27, 2012
PPP, PML-N take each other to task in National AssemblyBy Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s conviction by the Supreme Court shifted next door to parliament when the Lower House echoed with shouts and taunts by the PPP and PML-N at each other, with the latter throwing down the gauntlet to the ruling party to ask the premier to come to the House to face reaction.
PPP and PML-N members resorted to sloganeering against each other and interrupted speeches of opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Law Minister Farooq H Naek, with the latter giving policy statement over conviction and history of Swiss cases, and the former rejecting the statement on the grounds that the government wanted to politicise the issue.
Naek pointed out that the statement was not in line with the charges framed, and Gilani never ridiculed the judiciary as mentioned in the court’s short order.
He said appeal against the verdict would be filed in the court as part of the trial, adding all talks of the PM being disqualified were “absurd”. “The court has not disqualified Yousaf Raza Gilani as prime minister or MNA,” he contended.
Nisar’s demand from the ruling party to bring the PM in the House triggered protest from PPP lawmakers. He called upon Gilani to resign from office and through an appeal in the court, prove he was innocent.
He challenged the PPP to go to the people’s court if it had no faith in Pakistani, Swiss and British courts. “Let’s announce the date of the poll and go the people’s court,” he demanded.
Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza appeared upset over the rumpus created by both parties and advised to maintain decorum of the House.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk