Convicted PM can’t decide fate of 180 million people: CJ

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday resumed hearing of Speaker ruling case.
According to a private TV channel, Chief Justice remarked that a convicted person could not be allowed to decide the fate of 180 million people of this country.
A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain heard a set of constitutional petitions challenging the National Assembly Speaker, Fehmida Mirza’s ruling over the reference against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt of court case.
In his remarks, the CJP said a person who has been found guilty could not be allowed to decide the fate of 180 million people.
“The petitions are of the view that fate of 180 million people is in the hand of such a person who has been sentenced by a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court.”
The Attorney General of Pakistan, Irfan Qadir, intervened during the course of hearing and termed the 7-member bench ‘unconstitutional’. He said his arguments would go in vain as “the judges have already made up their minds”.
To which the CJP barred him from speaking, and ordered to wait his turn.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, contended before the jury. He said the petitions were not admissible.
The petitions heard were filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Azhar Chaudhry advocate and others.