IK welcomes Gilani disqualification

Islamabad:Chairman Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Imran Khan has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court disqualifying Yousaf Raza Gilani. It must be remembered, he said, that this decision has come about on a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. The party took the decision to approach the apex court because after Yousaf Raza Gilani had been held in contempt, the Speaker had no authority to question the decision. Her role was simply to transmit the superior court decision to the Election Commission, which she refused to do. This said Imran Khan had created a situation of constitutional deadlock and it was necessary for the Supreme Court to adjudicate upon it.

The decision today according to Chairman PTI was historic because it has demarcated the limits of judicial and parliamentary authority. It will set a precedent that once the superior judiciary has convicted someone, no non judicial forum can hold otherwise. The obvious implication said Imran Khan is that once a conviction from a court of law has attained finality, disqualification from membership of a legislature would be automatic.

Imran Khan also said that the decision is a victory for rule of law, for supremacy of the constitution and in the final analysis for equity and justice. Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf salutes the Supreme Court for demonstrating that before law everyone is equal whether a common man or a Prime Minister.