Islamabad: A presidential ordinance issued to protect the legislative measures taken by the then Pakistani prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from April 26 to June 19 was challenged in the Supreme Court Tuesday.
President Asif Ali Zardari issued the ordinance June 24 to give legal protection to the legislative and administrative actions taken by Gilani between the time of his conviction for contempt of court and his disqualification as the prime minister by the Supreme Court.
Petitioner Shahid Orakzai said the ordinance violates parliament's right of law making.
The ordinance also tries to undermine the constitutional rights of the court, Dawn quoted the petitioner as saying. He appealede to the court to declare the ordinance void.
The apex court last Tuesday ruled Gilani stood disqualified as prime minister and member of national assembly because its April 26 verdict held him in contempt of court for refusing to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against Zardari.
Gilani had pleaded to the apex court that Zardari enjoyed immunity under the constitution until he held the president's post.
IANS
First Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 23:57