Pakistan Opposition Leader Hints At Anti-govt March

Islamabad, April 29, IRNA – Main opposition leader in Pakistan has reiterated call on Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, to step down after having been convicted by the Supreme Court and hinted a long march on Islamabad. Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party and former Prime said Gilani is no longer eligible to hold office. The Supreme Court found Gilani, who had been elected unanimously to the post of Prime Minister four years ago, guilty of contempt of court for refusing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and gave him a symbolic sentence of 30 seconds detention in the courtroom. Gilani, during the National Assembly session on Friday, challenged Nawaz to bring a no-confidence motion if “he thinks he can dissolve the government”. The prime minister has so far refused to step down from his post. Instead, he has put his faith in the authority of Speaker of National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza to decide his fate. “Gilani should have mercy on the country’s system and step down from his illegal post.” Nawaz threatened that Gilani will face “unexpected consequences” if he does not step down. “The speeches of Gilani or any of his ministers do not hold any importance anymore… After Supreme Court’s April 26 order, the country has been running without any government,” Sharif told a news conference. The opposition leader said that his party is only trying to bring the country’s looted money back. “The Supreme Court wants to bring back the money which had been looted from Pakistan, and that is why, it passed the order. And anyone who refuses to comply with that order should be punished.” /end