U.S. group disapproves Gilani's conviction

Dallas, Apr 30 (ANI): The U.S. based South Asia Democracy Watch (SADeW) has termed the recent conviction of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as an attempt to derail the current democratic process in the country as part of the institutional power struggle.

The SADeW said the party in power should be allowed to complete its current term, which is an important step to strengthen the democratic process.

The nonprofit organization, representing known intellectuals, scholars, legal experts, journalists, political activists, and community leaders, has announced that the conviction, limiting the credibility of the Prime Minister has severely jeopardized his role in resolving regional and international issues including terrorism, Kashmir, peace negotiations with India and relations with the United States and Afghanistan.

According to The News, SADeW viewed Gilani as a victim of the institutional struggle between the executive, legislature, judiciary, and the army.

"South Asia as a region is witnessing a strong surge in strengthening democracy from Nepal to Bangladesh to Maldives and Sri Lanka and this positive development strongly supported by the masses should not be stalled," the SADeW statement reiterated.

The statement, endorsed by the group representatives, Syed Fyyaz Hasan (political activist), Tausif Kamal (attorney), Dr.Qaisar Abbas (scholar and educationist), Raja Muzaffar (politician) and Zahid Akhtar (journalist) appealed to the people of Pakistan, political parties, intellectuals and media to oppose any attempt to disrupt the democratic process in Pakistan.

It has also formed a committee of legal experts to analyze the legal aspects of the verdict and submit a report headed by the well-known attorney Tausif Kamal.(ANI)