News
SC verdict only a 'stir in the teacup': Gilani
By Murtaza Ali Shah
LONDON: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Friday declared that the Supreme Court detailed judgement had no impact whatsoever and he had nothing to fear, as he was not complicit in any illegal, unconstitutional or immoral activity.Responding to a question posed by The News, Prime Minister Gilani maintained that the issue of the Supreme Courtís detailed judgements did not figure during his discussions with the British government, as the verdict was not a matter that concerned the outside world, and to this effect recited an Urdu couplet "Moje hay dereeya may, bahir dereeya kuch nahee" (loosely translated as "It's nothing more than a stir in a tea cup").
Accompanied by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, High Commissioner Wajid Shams-ul Hasan, Minister for Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh and Saleem Mandiwala, Prime Minister Gilani addressed media persons at the Pakistan High Commission where he also inaugurated a new consular services hall to provide consular services to British Pakistanis.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister lashed out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and blamed him for overreacting to the judgement for the sake of his own publicity and to meet his own political ends. He further said that Nawaz Sharif was simply trying to create the impression that the country's institutions were in a state of clash, while this was not the case.
"We donít want two interpretations of the law: one by the courts of the lands and one by the Sharif courts," held Prime Minister Gilani.When asked a question about Justice Latif Khosa's version of Khalil Jibran's Pity the Nation aimed at the PPP-led government, the prime minister said the esteemed judge was his class fellow and he respected him, but would not rely on poetry to answer back.
The prime minister also claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had failed to agree with the federal government on suggestions and ways to end the energy crisis prevalent in the province, and further accused Shahbaz of being involved in a conspiracy to bring the people out onto the streets against the federation.
"If they (Sharifs) end the politics of confrontation, then it will be a death in the coffin of their politics of agitation. Their intentions are evil. They are making Pakistan a laughing stock in the world."
Prime Minister Gilani asserted that the days of "Maulana Bhashani" style politics were over, and that the Pakistani people were mature enough to see through the conspiracies. He said if Nawaz Sharif really wanted to get rid of the federal government then he should resign from the assemblies and attempt to impeach the president, try to oust him (Gilani) through a move of no confidence, or else form an alliance with Imran Khan and see if they could do anything to get rid of him.
The prime minister informer reporters that both Britain and Pakistan were intensifying co-operation in areas of shared interests including business, trade, investment, education, health and security.
The premier said that Pakistanís future was bright, and that its youth -- which constituted 65 percent of the population - would carry the country forward. In contrast, he joked that Nawaz Sharifís own future did not look too bright because he only looked at "gloomed scenarios."
Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan was a proud democracy today as a result of the sacrifices made by democrats. He also questioned why only politicians were picked up for trial on corruption charges but military dictators were allowed to escape scot-free even after committing murder.
Courtesy www.geo.tv