Pakistan's high court declares Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani ineligible for office. Gilani is the first prime minister to be convicted by a court.
Hamid Khan is a senior advocate for the Supreme Court
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HAMID KHAN, SENIOR ADVOCATE SUPREME COURT, SAYING:
"Today, the historic judgment of the Supreme Court has been given in which the court has given a verdict that on the announcement of the judgment of seven-member bench of the Supreme Court on the 26th of April, 2012, Mr. Yusaf Raza Gilani became disqualified as a member of Parliament, and consequently as a Prime Minister of the country. And that he has ceased to be a Prime Minister with effect from 26th of April 2012. "
In April, the court found Gilani guilty of contempt of court for refusing to reopen corruption cases against the president. The court ruled that since no appeal was filed against the conviction, Gilani was disqualified as a member of Parliament .
Analysts say while the decision is a big blow to the ruling Pakistan People's Party, it is unlikely to lead to the fall of the unpopular government.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
