The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday approved a resolution presented by Law Minister Farooq H Naik to indemnify the actions taken by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after his disqualification on Supreme Court’s orders. Previously, a presidential ordinance issued on June 25, 2012, had given cover to Gilani’s actions during the preceding two months following his disqualification on April 26. The ordinance prevented the steps taken by Gilani’s government from being challenged in court. The resolution tabled in NA sought an extension of 120 days in the ordinance under para A, clause 2 of Article 89 of the constitution. While opposing the resolution, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Zahid Hamid said why the government was feeling the need to move the resolution while the matter was already being discussed by a standing committee. He further said that attempts were being made to indemnify the steps of a prime minister who had been declared disqualified by the Supreme Court. Despite PML-N’s opposition, NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi approved the resolution.
