Pak experts divided over Gilani's disqualification following contempt order

Islamabad, Apr 27 (ANI): Experts in Pakistan continue to remain divided over whether Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani stands disqualified as a result of the Supreme Court's decision.

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) Executive Director Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said the short apex court order does not provide for Gilani's disqualification. He said Gilani was not convicted on the charges of ridiculing the judiciary, but for contempt of court, which did not attract the application of Article 63 (1)(g).

According to Article 63(1)(g), "A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament), if... he defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary or the Armed Forces of Pakistan, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release."

"The law is always in black and white. Either the PM stands disqualified or he doesn't - which is not clearly mentioned in the short order. The situation would be clear once the detailed judgement is out," The Nation quoted Mehboob, as saying.ormer ECP Secretary Kanwar Dilshad contradicted Mehboob, by saying, "Article 63(1)(g) powerfully asserts that PM is disqualified. It leaves no room for the application of article 63(2) in the given scenario."

Following court instructions, Kanwar said, the National Assembly speaker is bound to proceed for de-seating the PM by asking the ECP to initiate the action. (ANI)