“Yousaf 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.”
–Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
– June 2012.

With calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif increasing by the day following the Panama Leaks, comparisons are being drawn to Yousaf Raza Gillani’s ouster from power by the Supreme Court in 2012. However, the fundamental difference in both cases is the conviction of Yousaf Gillani on a contempt of court charge, for refusing to writing to Swiss authorities to get information for reopening cases against Zardari. A symbolic sentence until the rising of the court was used as reason for his removal, and while accusations have been levelled against the sitting Prime Minister, the parallel does not exist.