IANS ISLAMABAD PRIME Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s fate was dependent on Pakistan speaker Fehmida Mirza’s course of action, said a daily on Wednesday, exhorting her to “stand up for the law and not for parochial loyalties”.

An editorial in the News International said the Supreme Courtís detailed judgment in the contempt of court case against Gilani has “opened the question of whether the premierís fate rests in the hands of one woman - Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza”.

It said that as things now stand, the speaker has three options: let the reference simply pass on to the Election Commission for its ruling; send the case to the Election Commission herself and let it take a decision in 90 days; or reject the reference under the argument that the prime minister does not merit disqualification.

“Which course will the speaker choose?” the daily wondered.

Referring to Mirza’s statements that the Supreme Court has the right to interpret the constitution and that she understands that she has to fulfil both the expectations of the people and of parliament, the daily said: “...one is hopeful that the speaker will do the right thing”.

“The last four years have seen Mirza performing the balancing act between being a PPP insider and a non-partisan speaker,” it said, adding: “Now the question of forwarding the PM’s reference will be the real test of Mirzaís neutrality.” With her latest statement, the speaker seems to have publicly tried to distance herself from Gilani and to, perhaps, suggest that “she will also not bend over backwards to be a rubber stamp for the executive”.

“...Mirza’s decision will be a testament to her own integrity as it will be a move deciding the PM’s future,” it said.