ISLAMABAD: Steady nerves and a pointed address.
The premier remained composed on Friday, despite a raring opposition and potentially wavering allies in the face of a deepening row with the military and the judiciary – and the government also managed to introduce a highly-anticipated resolution in the house.
The resolution was moved, symbolically enough, by the PPP’s thus far most steadfast ally, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, amid a protest from opposition benches.
Before the resolution, addressing a special session of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said he would prefer going to the people over begging for the opposition’s support for a fresh vote of confidence in parliament.
“I do not need a vote of confidence,” Gilani said, adding that he was elected prime minister unanimously.
The session, it was widely believed, had been convened in the wake of the Supreme Court warning President Asif Ali Zardari and the prime minister of disqualification over the non-implementation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) verdict.
But the prime minister snubbed the notion that his government was afraid of the NRO at the get-go.
“We have not come for the NRO. We do not need your support to be saved from the military and have not come for a clash of institutions. We have also not come to be shaheeds (martyrs),” the premier said, responding to the leader of the opposition’s query seeking a justification for the ‘emergency session.’
“Somebody should tell us the reason for convening this session and what you are afraid of,” the leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, had said earlier.
“We have to decide whether there should be democracy or dictatorship in the country … democracy should not be punished for our mistakes”.
He said the opposition could initiate a no-confidence motion against him, but added that it should avoid the temptation: “If a new stage is set up, it will be for neither of us (the government or opposition) – as was the case in 1999,” he said.
The premier repeatedly said he was not against any institution, citing his decision of freeing judges from house arrest.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah said the government wanted to introduce a resolution, with the support of the opposition, to keep sovereignty of the house intact.
Gilani’s speech was followed by the highly-anticipated resolution, which is expected to be put to vote in the next session on Monday. Despite having a majority in the house to pass it, the premier said, the government would wait for the opposition’s input.
The resolution said that the trichotomy of powers should be fully respected and all institutions should operate strictly within the Constitution.
Chaudhry Nisar, however, said the opposition did not agree with the last clause of the resolution which states: “This house endorses and supports the efforts made by the political leadership for strengthening democracy and reposes full confidence and trust in them.”
“If we had the numerical strength, a no-confidence motion against the government could have been the first thing we had done,” Nisar said, adding that the resolution was “unnecessary”.
“We will not welcome any unconstitutional step,” he, however, added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2012.
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COMMENTS (34)
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If this is democracy, we weer better in Dictatorship...
@Kamran
Brother, looks like emotion got the better of your reason. Just consider,
democracy or load shedding- Means if you reject Democracy you want load shedding democracy or close all industry- Means if you reject Democracy you want closure of industry democracy or law and order democracy or “faqay”- Means if you reject Democracy you want faqay democracy or corruption- Means if you reject Democracy you want corruption
Is that what you meant?
People of Pakistan did not have a good experience of either democracy or military rule. The present govt days are numbered and Gilani is making his last ditch efforts which may only turn out to be futile. The people must give a firm verdict during next elections which would give a strong message to future rulers that corruption and bad governance will result in its fall.
what people want
democracy or load shedding democracy or close all industry democracy or law and order democracy or "faqay" democracy or corruption
this resolution anp put in assembly must consist of betterment of people but they are saving there corruption
Yesterday zia asked the quesiton " Islam or not? if yes i am your leader" today only face is changed, Gilani is asking "Democracy or not? if yes i am your leader". Mentality never changes in Pakistani Politics
ANP the only true political party in the history of Pakistan, all others are the creations of establishment / agencies. PTI is there new edition, every times we were FOOLED . . .??
I remember PPP's words on a vote of confidence initiated by PML-N in Punjab assembly during one PPP's previous tenure... "it is a political stunt as it has no constitutional basis" said the now deceased Salman Taseer, then a MPA and leader of opposition.
So it was a stunt then and now it has magically become essential to uphold parliament
@John B: Dear Mr John, When I read many comments here, I remember the same word for Pakistani educated class: "Gumrah" If this is the situation of educated elite, what can one expect of 'man-on-the-street' Pakistani? Democracy takes 50+ years to take roots. Pakistanis should learn to be patient.
The writing is on the wall. This govt's days are numbered. Enough of the loot and plunder, mismanagement and gross incompetence.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
If a vote of no confidence does not attain a majority of votes, the result itself is a vote of confidence in the civilian government. By the way how are you doing Mr Siddiqui, it probably has been a long time.
Lol !!!!! So now you decide that you don't need vote of confidence ???? I suppose you consider that, as very democratic and constitutional act !!!! PPP and this Govt is well passed its sell by date, they are just there as no one in their right mind wants to take over the baggage and problems that are facing the Nation on !!!!
You don't need a vote of confidence.. Kion bhai aap saltanat-e-hindustan k Badshah hain kia?
Lolz! What would this stupidly formulated resolution show, even if voted for?
That we have a parlimentary system? Don't we know that?
The question of the resolution should rather have been:
"Should we(the Government) sign the docs to the Swiss Authorities?"
and further: "Do you believe HH would act on his own in approaching Mullen?"
And finally:
"Are you satisfied with our mode of rule?"
Only this would prove how many sincere people we have in the parliament, who can see the writing on the wall and not ignore it.
What a nonsense resolution being drafted, a panic call at the best.
Regards.
We don't need you ...neither we accept you as a PM!
Yes prime minister u r always right
Option number 6 given by Supreme Court can save all. Go for early polls and see what people want. This act of PP can raise the stature of PM also. Have a courage and take bold step of fresh new elctions please.
I am fed up of this word Democracy..........from those who has no regard in essence.
we need dictatorship ... as elsewhere in the muslim world ;)
PM know that no one has confidence on him
people definitely come and go but please you leave right now, and help a country for the free fair elections!
The Prime Minister is not taking the vote of confidence because he knows it would be lot less than the one he got in March 2008.
@ sara: with "dignity". May be all he has but dignity.
This shows he and his party save there interest only they did not care about public interest
Until all the institutions are completely destroyed. He missed this part.
You mean, 'I can't get Vote of Confidence'?
If a no confidence motion is moved in the parliament against the sitting Prime Minister than PM is liable to take a vote of confidence.
The question is not a choice for the parliament between democracy or dictatorship. There is no threat to democracy as clearly stated by both the SC and the ISPR. The proposed Resolution is nothing more than a sign of utter panic by the ruling party.
please leave with dignity.
"People come and go, but it was important to protect the parliament"
Please, stick with ur words this time and give ur resignation, announce fresh polls!