Nawaz vows all forms of protest to dislodge Gilani

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday vowed to stage all forms of protest including “long march” if PM Gilani persists with holding the premiership, DawnNews reported. Speaking at a press conference after chairing a party’s consultative meeting, he said the country was being governed without a prime minister after Supreme Court’s conviction of Gilani on Thursday.
The apex court had declared Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani convicted for contempt of court for not writing the Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. The PML-N chief adviced the prime minister to leave the post and go back to Multan as after the court’s verdict he does not qualify to remain on his seat. Sharif said that after the verdict of the apex court no one will recognize Gilani as the premier. “There is no federal government or cabinet now,” he added. The court has disqualified Gilani for five years, Sharif added. He announced that the PML-N would struggle for the respect and dignity of the judiciary both inside and outside the parliament. “The judgment of the apex court against Gilani is absolutely clear,” he observed. Sharif blamed President Zardari for being responsible for the prevailing situation and asked how many prime ministers he would sacrifice? He warned that if PM Gilani does not relinquish his office he would face serious consequences as his attitude was bringing a bad name for the country. Answering a question, the PML-N Chief demanded that the “looted money” of the nation should be brought back from the banks in Switzerland. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said Yousuf Raza Gilani is a former prime minister now and has no constitutional and legal right to remain in office.