ISLAMABAD - President Asif Zradari has issued an ordinance to legitimise all official procedures adopted and orders issued by disqualified PM Gilani during April 26 to June 19, 2012.
According to the ordinance issued on Sunday, these decisions could not be challenged in any court. This ordinance, providing cover to the actions former PM took after his disqualification, has thus been ensured to be ‘an iron-clad one’ so it could endure any challenge posed to it even by the Supreme Court.
The ordinance states: “This ordinance has been introduced in light of aftermath of the notification regarding disqualification of Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister, and short verdict of Supreme Court (circa-Jun 19, 2012), over various constitutional petitions”.
The ‘Legal cause Ordinance’ is being issued in accordance with powers conferred on president as, according to article 89 (section-1).
“It is of considerable importance that all legislation carried out by the disqualified PM should be given legal cover and acceptance in order to ensure that all assembly and senate proceedings continue, unperturbed,’ it said.
As per the ordinance all actions performed by Gilani under the official capacity of PM, including parliamentary decisions, directives issued, MoUs, international accords, official messaging, advice rendered to president, including act ordinances, or/and other legal documents, powers conferred and appointments, have been given constitutional protection, as such.
The second section of the ordinance, issued under the signatures of President Zardari and released by secretary law Justice (r) Yasmeen Abbasi, also restricts any court action against any appointed official or ongoing implementation over any official directive.
The Supreme Court on June 19 disqualified Gilani as the prime minister in its short order in the NA speaker ruling case. “Yousuf Raza Gilani is disqualified from membership of parliament from April 26, the date of his conviction. He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan,” said chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, reading the order.
Earlier, petitions were filed stating that the decisions Gilani made during his disqualification period (from April 26) should be declared null and void. A writ was also filed in the Supreme Court against Gilani’s decisions made in that period.