Pak Cabinet turns down Gilani's proposal: reports

Pakistan government ratified the imposition of Governor's rule in Punjab amid reports that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wanted the two-day-old central rule in the province to be lifted but could not get the support of his own cabinet.

Pakistan governmenton Friday ratified the imposition of Governor's rule in Punjab amid reports that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani wanted the two-day-old central rule in the province to be lifted but could not get the support of his own cabinet.

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President Asif Ali Zardari had on Wednesday imposed President's rule in Punjab, where PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's brother Shahbaz was the Chief Minister, hours after the Supreme Court barred the Sharifs from contesting polls.

The Cabinet ratified Zardari's order imposing Governor's rule in Punjab after declaring the Supreme Court's decision to bar Nawaz and Shahbaz from holding elected office as "regrettable but according to the law".

A special meeting of the cabinet chaired by Gilani took stock of political developments after the court's decision and the imposition of Governor's Rule in Punjab.

"The cabinet declared the (apex court's) decision to disqualify the Sharif brothers as regrettable, but according to the law," said an official statement.

Describing Governor's Rule as "an option of the last resort", the cabinet said it was resorted to because of "the constitutional and administrative void" caused by the Supreme Court's judgment.