At a special meeting of the PINA Study Group held on Friday, the participants called upon the political forces to demonstrate political restraint and prudence in handling the situation arising after the Supreme Court’s conviction of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani.
The special session was chaired by eminent constitutional expert SM Zafar.
The meeting appreciated the judicial wisdom shown by the Supreme Court that led to an intelligent verdict with far reaching consequences for the rule of law in Pakistan.
It was unanimously agreed that the process of removing a National Assembly member, as laid down in the constitution, should be followed in letter and spirit.
The meeting said efforts should be made by political parties to avoid confrontation and street agitation, keeping in view the current internal and external challenges, the deteriorating law and order situation and the country’s weak economy.
The participants stated that the national leadership was now tasked with ensuring political stability at a critical juncture when the Afghan peace process and revitalisation of relations with USA were being reviewed.
The meeting suggested that the PM may, in the meantime, write the letter to Swiss authorities as required by Supreme Court.
The study group was concerned that the prime minister had to face conviction on contempt of court charges.
The PINA group advised PM Gilani to act on advice of his senior party leader Zafar Ali Shah to set a healthy democratic tradition and resign from the office with grace.
It was further recommended that the political allies of the ruling party should also exercise moral responsibility to diffuse any political crisis.
Former Chief Justice Mian Allah Nawaz, political analyst Qayyum Nizami, PINA Secretary General Altaf Hasan Qureshee, senior columnists and journalists Sajjad Mir, Rauf Tahir, Ajmal Shahdin, Salman Abid, Prof Dr Amanullah Malik, defence analyst Brig (r) Farooq Hameed Khan and former Election Commission director general Rahmat Ali Mujahid also attended the meeting.
