Pakistan Premier Shaukat Aziz has rejected a government lawyer's suggestion that he should quit if Supreme Court reinstated suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, saying that he had done nothing wrong that warranted his resignation.
Reacting to remarks made by Mallik Qayyum, a member of panel of lawyers arguing the government's case against Chaudhry in the apex court, Aziz said "we have been saying that we will accept and implement whatever the verdict of honourable Supreme Court and Supreme Judicial council (SJC)" is in the case against Chaudhry.
He said the reference of allegations against Chaudhry was sent to "appropriate body" as per the Constitution and the rules.
The Pakistan Prime Minister said that he had done nothing wrong that warranted his resignation.
"We have not understood the relevance what has been said yesterday," Aziz told reporters last night replying to a question about Qayyum's remarks.
The crux of Aziz's statement was that he was entitled to send the reference of charges to President Pervez Mushrraf, who in turn referred to the SJC, whose proceedings are stayed by the Supreme Court which is currently hearing Chaudhry's petition challenging the reference.
Qayyum, in an apparent attempt to shield Musharraf, said the moral responsibility lied with Aziz, therefore he should quit if Chaudhry is reinstated.
{{/usCountry}}Qayyum, in an apparent attempt to shield Musharraf, said the moral responsibility lied with Aziz, therefore he should quit if Chaudhry is reinstated.
{{/usCountry}}Ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) President Shujaat Hussain, who was present at Aziz's press conference, expressed surprise at the lawyer's advice, saying that it meant that anyone who filed a suit in the court would be punished if the verdict went against him.