PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER YOUSUF RAZA GILANI 'DISQUALIFIED'

Islamabad, June 19 Only Kashmir

Pakistan Supreme Court today declared Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ineligible to hold office and said he stood disqualified since April 26 when he was convicted and sentenced for contempt. 

The apex court also asked President Asif Ali Zardari to play constitutional role for continuation of democracy. 

TV channels here reported the court has also ordered Zardari to select a new prime minister. 

The verdict also states that the Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) should issue a notification regarding Gilani's ineligibility. 

The verdict is a huge setback for Gilani, 60 who will no longer be a member of parliament. 

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 National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza's ruling over the reference against Prime Minister Gilani. 

The bench had been hearing a set of petitions filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Azhar Chaudhry advocate and others challenging the speaker's ruling of May 24 over the qualification issue. 

Gilani's lawyer, Fawad Chaudhry said only Parliament could dismiss the prime minister. (OK)