Punjab's long-march would tantamount to treason: Gilani

Islamabad, May 2 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said no province can launch a long-march against the federal government because such an act will tantamount to treason, Geo News reported.

Gilani was speaking Tuesday during a television programme "Prime Minister Online".

Replying to a question regarding the long-march announced by the Punjab government, Gilani said such act could be considered as "treason" as it would be a step of the provincial government against the federal government.

"It is totally unacceptable," he added.

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has said Gilani is no more the country's prime minister since his conviction.

Nawaz, the former prime minister, vowed every option including a long-march would be launched to honour the Supreme Court's verdict.

Pakistan's Supreme Court last Thursday found Gilani guilty of contempt of court and gave him a symbolic sentence of 30 seconds for failing to reopen the corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari despite several court orders.

All graft cases against Zardari and thousands of others had been withdrawn under an amnesty law enacted in 2007 by then Pakistani president Pervez Musaharraf.

Gilani refused to act on the court's directives in the past to reopen corruption cases against Zardari, arguing that the president enjoyed immunity under the Pakistani constitution.