My government is not going to fall, says Gilani

Author: 
AZHAR MASOOD | ARAB NEWS
Publication Date: 
Sun, 2010-09-26 23:11

Talking to senior journalists and columnists based in Islamabad on Sunday, he warned, "Any undemocratic change will prove fatal for the country, its institutions and the media which is running a campaign against our government."
He was speaking on the eve of Supreme Court's hearing of two major cases that deals with the nonimplementation of Supreme Court's verdict on national reconciliation ordinance (NRO) and Supreme Court's review of the 18th Constitutional Amendment which empowered the Parliament to appoint judges of superior courts.
Gilani said the Supreme Court has no right to legislate. "It (the court) can interpret the law but cannot enact any law."
When he was reminded that his government had violated several judgments of the Supreme Court that could warrant as contempt of court, Gilani said, "We are not disregarding Supreme Court's verdicts."
He also told the journalists, "please you people do not make the judges. Let the courts decide the cases."
When asked to comment on a possible contempt action against him by the Supreme Court, the prime minister refused to respond, saying the case is in court.
Gilani evaded a question over the immunity enjoyed by President Asif Ali Zardari, saying again the case is in court.
"We fully respect the courts and will implement their verdicts, but there is a need that all institutions work within their constitutional limits," he said, adding that the president was the supreme commander of the armed forces and since immunity to him had been given by Parliament under Article 248 of the Constitution, only the Parliament could revoke the immunity.
Commenting on the reported fleeing of Suleman Farooqi, Gilani said the presidential aide had proceeded to US "on medical leave."
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik sent his belongings and family to London on Sunday.
Various TV Channels aired footage of Malik's family, headed by brother Khalid Malik, at the Islamabad Airport's international lounge.

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