‘SC, speaker, CEC never gave adverse ruling against Gilani’

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Farooq H Naik on Friday told protesting PML-N legislators that Yousaf Raza Gilani was still a member of the parliament, as neither the Supreme Court, NA speaker nor the Chief Election Commissioner had given any adverse ruling against him, warning them that if the PML-N’s protest led to the derailment of democracy, they would be held responsible for it. However, the opposition members responded to the stance of the law minister with chants of “no, no, no”. Speaking on a point of order in the House, Naik observed that the PML-N protest in the House was in violation of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. “This rowdy stance is against parliamentary traditions,” he added. Naik further said the government would move another resolution for the creation of Hazara Province, but after evolving a consensus amongst other political parties. National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza also called the PML-N protest unfair. “The opposition has a right to protest but within the parliamentary norms… There is a way. Don’t adopt the manners of a dictator,” she advised the PML-N members who continued protest for the fourth day. “Here ends your show, Go Gilani Go,” they shouted in response to the speaker’s advice. Torn copies of the questions flew in the air as the opposition members intensified their protest over the issue of the prime minister’s conviction in the contempt case. Minister for Finance, Revenue and Planning and Development, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, told the House in a written reply that the government during the last four years borrowed from the State Bank of Pakistan Rs 688.7 billion, Rs 114 billion, Rs 41.9 billion and Rs 16.9 billion in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively.