Gillani terms verdict shocking | Governor’s rule to fill vacuum

Terming the verdict of the Supreme Court against Sharif brothers as highly-shocking, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has said that the democracy will undoubtedly suffer, urging that the imposition of the Governor Rule in Punjab is merely meant to fill the constitutional vacuum. The PM, expressing these views while talking to journalists here on Thursday, said that "the verdict has shocked us all badly." He expressed his sadness over the verdict.He said the decision of imposing Governor Rule was taken unanimously to fill the constitutional vacuum. "I was personally shocked and then immediately called Shahbaz Sharif," he said. "Governor Rule is a decision of the entire party and not of my alone. The decision has been taken after consulting all high ups of the party," he said. He while replying to a question, said, "We want to take all political parties on board. The PPP-led government believes in the policy of national reconciliation and will continue the policy in coming days." He also warned that "our enemies (undemocratic forces) would benefit a lot out of it if we fail to adopt reconciliation.Regarding the NRO, Gillani said that he had no idea about the procedure working of the ordinance. "We have not been weakened with the SC's verdict, however democracy will get a setback in this regard," he maintained. He urged that protest demonstrations must be stopped across the country as it was causing damage to public and private properties. "I cannot predict future scenario as politics change with every day passing," he remarked.Gillani said he was following the path of political reconciliation which was envisaged by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Meanwhile, the PM summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet to discuss the overall political situation in the country. The cabinet meeting would discuss the political and law and order situation in the country in the wake of imposition of Governor Rule in Punjab.President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday, in consultation with the PM imposed Governor Rule in Punjab, after the SC's verdict. The court decision led to protests in many cities from where incidents of arson, loot and plunder were also reported.