Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani on Tuesday has been pronounced disqualified for the post of PM and the Member of Parliament (MP) by Pak Supreme Court.
A bench of three judges comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain today pronounced their verdicts of April 26, which was on hold.
At that time, he was found guilty against contempt of court and court awarded him to arrest for 30 seconds or the judges did not leave the chambers.
The court heard a set of constitutional petitions challenging National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza's ruling over Gilani's qualification as prime minister, Dawn News reported.
The petitions were filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) and advocate Azhar Chaudhry challenging the speaker's ruling that the apex court verdict in the contempt case did not disqualify Gilani from holding the prime minister's post.
Earlier on April 26, a seven-member bench of the apex court had convicted Gilani for contempt of Court for not reopening cases against Pak President Asif Ali Zardari who is at present in Britain with his family but he still holds the Prez portfolio.
"Yousuf Raza Gilani has become disqualified from being member of the parliament," said Chief Justice Chaudhry, reading the order.
"He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan with effect from the same date (April 26) and office of the prime minister shall be deemed to be vacant accordingly."
The court asked Zardari to take necessary steps under the constitution to ensure continuation of the democratic process through parliamentary system of government in the country.
"The Election Commission is required to issue notification of disqualification. The president is required to take necessary steps under the constitution to ensure continuation of democratic process through parliamentary system of government in the country," Chaudhry said.
--With IANS Inputs--
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