Quick Edit | Turmoil in Pakistan

Finally, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has disqualified Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from membership of parliament.

“Yousuf Raza Gilani is disqualified from membership of parliament from April 26, the date of his conviction. He has also ceased to be the prime minister of Pakistan,” chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said while pronouncing the court’s order.

This is one more blow to an already fragile government that has been marred by charges of corruption and outright incompetence.

The situation in Pakistan is likely to be fluid now. This is primarily due to unsettled power and constitutional issues there. A simple way out is for President Asif Zardari to call for fresh elections. If, however, he decides to “appoint” a new PM, that can lead to opposition from other political parties and create space for political turmoil.