Pak politicians dismiss Gilani’s ‘evasive’ address to nation ‘mere eye wash’

LAHORE - Leaders of various Pakistani political parties have pointed out the lack of substance in Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani’s address to the nation, and have called it a desperate effort to win back the credibility that his government is fast losing.

Most politicians drew attention to the fact that Gilani did not explicitly mention whether the executive order about the restoration of judges could be withdrawn or not, The Nation reported.

Senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that there was nothing new in the speech of the prime minister, who seemed powerless even after the 18th amendment in the constitution. He added that Gilani had disappointed the nation, as he gave no hint of implementing the court verdict on NRO in letter and in spirit.

PML-Q president Punjab- Chaudary Zaheer-ud-Din- said that the country’s chief executive’s address to the nation was aimed at merely filling the credibility gap of the his government since he knew that his government had failed to solve the problems of the masses.

Chief of PML (Zia), Ijaz-ul-Haq, opined that Gilani had addressed the nation in a bid to avoid submitting written reply to the Supreme Court, as well as to keep the executive order withdrawal option in his hands.

“The Prime Minister hasn’t said that executive order could not be withdrawn. He only focused on the denial of ‘false’ news,” stated the PML-Z chief, and added that the judges’ restoration under the executive order remained under threat, and the events in the near future would unfold the real objective of the premier’s address.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Central Information Secretary- Umer Sarfraz Cheema- said that Gilani gave no clue whether his government was going to implement the court orders regarding the NRO, and that his government was just making hollow claims of respecting the judiciary without taking practical steps to show its adherence of the SC judgements.

Jamat-i-Islami Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan pointed out that the Prime Minister did not mention the Supreme Court’s decision of December 2009, in which government was asked to write letter to the Swiss Government for reopening of the corruption cases against the President. (ANI)