ISLAMABAD, May 8: The Election Commission has requested “necessary clarification” of the apex court’s order of April 26 against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

According to an official, the clarification was sought through a letter sent by the commission on April 27 to the registrar of the Supreme Court.

The letter by the then director general of the commission said: “Your kind attention is drawn towards the contents… to the directions of honourable court contained in the afore-referred order of April 26 for immediate compliance.

“However, the perusal of that order shows that no such directions have been therein. Necessary clarification in this regard is solicited please.”

The Supreme Court sent the short order in the contempt case on April 26 to the offices of the National Assembly and the Chief Election Commissioner.

Law Minister Farooq H. Naek objected to the letters sent by the assistant registrar (implementation) of the Supreme Court to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Election Commission.

On April 29, a court official issued a statement clarifying that all orders, without any exception, were forwarded to the authorities and departments concerned for implementation and compliance.

Requested to comment on the Election Commission’s letter, Supreme Court’s Advocate Khwaja Harris said it only asked who would implement the order -- the National Assembly or the commission.

“If you read Article 63(1)(g) which deals with disqualification of the prime minister, it has two interpretations… the prime minister stands disqualified or the speaker will send a reference to the Election Commission and this letter must have been sent to get a clarification over the detailed judgment.”

But Advocate Athar Minallah said: “The detailed judgment is very clear and no clarification in needed.

“Prime Minister Gilani is convicted as per Article 63(1)(g) and since the short order was only an information the detailed judgment is there to help the institutions which will implement it.”