LATEST NEWS UPDATE:20.06.2012

ECP issues disqualification notice

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday issued a formal notice disqualifying Yousuf Raza Gilani as a prime minister and as a member of parliament as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The commission backdated the disqualification to April 26, the date that Gilani was convicted of contempt for refusing to ask Switzerland to reopen corruption cases against the president.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan hereby issues notification of disqualification of Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as (a) member (of the) National Assembly of Pakistan with effect from 26.04.2012,” it said just hours after the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Allies meeting: Zardari rejects option of early polls

ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of Yousuf Raza Gilani’s disqualification from the premier’s office by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, President Asif Ali Zardari disregarded the option of early general elections and said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will announce the name of new the  prime minister after National Assembly’s session on Friday.
The meeting of coalition partners of the government was held at the President House.
President Zardari recommended the names of Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Makhdoom Shahabuddin, Hina Rabbani Khar and Khursheed Shah for the premier’s office in front of the members of the meeting, sources said.
Earlier, it was hinted that Mukhtar might be nominated for the premier’s office but consensus was not reached as Pakistan Muslim League- Q’s ( PML-Q)  had reservations on it.
Makhdoom Shahabuddin came out to be the strongest candidate as yet, out of the options proposed by the president.
The coalition leaders advised Zardari to avoid the conflict with the judiciary and accept the decision of the apex court.
The participants of the meeting also agreed to summon a National Assembly’s session on Friday to decide on the appointment a new prime minister.
Gilani’s remarks:
Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the apex court went beyond their domain of authority and made an unconstitutional move by removing him from prime minister’s office.
“I have accepted the verdict in the wider interest of the country,” Gilani added.

PPP leadership holds emergency talks
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday held emergency talks among top leaders in his main ruling Pakistan People’s Party after the Supreme Court disqualified the prime minister from office.
Television footage showed Zardari, Yousuf Raza Gilani and Zardari’s son, party co-chairman, Bilawal, gathered in the heavily guarded presidency in the capital Islamabad.
Officials were tight-lipped on how the president would respond to the Supreme Court’s announcement that followed Gilani’s conviction on April 26 for contempt over refusing to reopen corruption cases against Zardari.
“President Zardari is presiding and Gilani is also attending, to assess the situation,” a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The president also summoned heads of coalition parties to the presidency for further talks at 8pm, the official added.

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Business News:

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MOHAMMED SALEEM MANSOORI