No reason for PM to resign

The federal cabinet on Thursday decided to wait for the detailed verdict of the Supreme Court (SC) in Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's contempt of court case. It was decided that the case was of political nature and there was no justification for PM Gilani to resign on moral grounds. The prime minister who was found guilty in a contempt of court case, chaired the emergency meeting of the federal cabinet to review implications of the court verdict. The bench found him guilty in the contempt of court case for failing to act on its directives to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. During the meeting, Gilani thanked members of the federal cabinet for their support and said that it would not have been possible for him to perform his duties without it. He said that the complete verdict had not been given yet, adding that further details would be provided by the law minister. “Politics has lots of ups and downs. It has a lot of problems. It is a long way and a hard way,” said Gilani. He likened politics to a “horror movie” that only adults could watch and not the weak. He said that if one opts for this role (politics), then struggle and problems become a part of the role. “Working with coal will make your hands black too” he said. Federal Law Minister Farooq Naek and Attorney General Irfan Qadir briefed the cabinet. The ministers welcomed the premier with desk thumping. PM Gilani told cabinet members that he has never insulted the courts. Except Punjab's Shahbaz Sharif all the chief ministers of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, provincial governors and PM Azad Kashmir participated in the meeting. The cabinet reiterated solidarity with the prime minister. The prime minister said speaker National Assembly has the authority to decide about the fate of public representatives. Hailing the support of coalition partners, the PM said the allies have backed the government in trying times.