Even if Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan join hands, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is “popular enough to defeat their alliance”, Gilani told office-bearers of the Lahore Press Club at his residence. The prime minister also accused the two parties of inciting street agitation through their actions and reminded the PML-N chief that his party was violating the Charter of Democracy.
Nawaz had invited the PTI to join his movement to oust Premier Gilani following his conviction by the apex court. But Imran says his party would join hands with the PML-N only if its lawmakers resign en masse from parliament and the provincial legislatures – both unacceptable preconditions for the Sharif brothers.
The two parties are now leading street protests separately.
Premier Gilani said it was he and President Asif Ali Zardari who faced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with courage while the Sharif brothers “fled the country after signing a deal with the dictator”.
The PPP leadership would do the same, whenever needed, and the Sharif brothers would again escape from the country, he added.
He called upon the Sharif brothers to apologise to the nation for “concealing their agreement with Musharraf and telling lies for ten years”.
The premier laughed off Sunday’s public rally of the PML-N in Taxila, saying that “my son can stage bigger rallies for them”.
Describing the PML-N’s street protests as realpolitik, Gilani challenged them to resign from the assemblies and he would announce snap polls. “If the PML-N leadership has courage, they should ask their lawmakers to resign from the assemblies en bloc and I will announce by-polls the same day,” he said.
The prime minister said that if the opposition wanted to unseat him, they ought to table a no-confidence motion in parliament. He insisted that he could not be forced to relinquish his post. “Nobody can remove me from my office through any undemocratic or unconstitutional method as there is a constitutional procedure for the removal of a prime minister,” he added.
He also reminded Nawaz of the Charter of Democracy he had signed with slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. The two leaders had agreed to uphold the cause of democracy in the country. “The PML-N is a signatory to the Charter of Democracy, so why is it staging a long march (against a democratic government?” he asked.
He vowed not to relent to the opposition pressure and step down voluntarily. He said that only parliament could de-notify him. If the apex court disqualifies me in its detailed judgment, even then the National Assembly speaker will decide my fate, he added.
Referring to the Pakistan Bar Council’s statement, the premier said that all bar councils of the country have endorsed the PPP’s stance on this matter.
(Read: From among our many wounds)
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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The statements issued by Gilani fron time to time show that this party is going to repeat its history once again. It will neither hold elections nor it will leave power in the normal way unless it is thrown out by force. It will never transfer power to a civilian government peacefully. The reason is simple. It has plundered the country so much that it will like to seek the shelter of the third party to save skin. Those politicians who consider that peoples party will ever hold elections are grossly mistaken It also knows that opposition is divided. If PML(N) really wants to get rid of this corrupt government its members must resign from their seats and show their strength in the streets. It will not be able to hold elections on the so many seats which will be vacated by the members of PML(N). otherwise Nawaz Sharif shoulf quit politics for ever which is beter for him rather than be disgraced again and again and further lose th confidence of the people.
“If the PML-N leadership has courage, they should ask their lawmakers to resign from the assemblies en bloc and I will announce by-polls the same day,” - Gilani is a shrews politician with guts
Gilani has no legal right to remain on the seat of PM. Pakistan is suffering from a lot of troubles and challenges due to Zardari and Gilani government. I believe that both of them should resign. They dont respect honorable courts of Pakistan. Gilani cannot harm Nawaz Sharif as Nawaz Sharif has become the most popular leader of Pakistan.
PM is involved in corruption. Present PPP government gave nothing to Pakistan. Pakistan is in deep troubles due to inefficient PM and government. Gilani has no self-respect. He is a convicted criminal and he should resign immediately. He has no moral and legal right to continue as PM of country. Such corrupt people cannot harm Nawaz Sharif and his party.
Shameless, shameless, shameless!
Mr. Gilani has totally lost it.
I'm with the elected P.M of Pakistan against this judgement of a biased court. N.S is just hiding behind the judiciary and playing with it like he played with it in 1997 when Sajjad Ali Shah was the C.J.P.
Kayani should resign as soon as possible
Gillani is smart enough to push Nawaz to resign, and once he do that probably Court's revised decision will be in favor of Gillani thus giving full power to PM. So this is a real chess game i guess.
When a person have no shame then he can do this only.
PML-N has a single point agenda. Take the steam out of this issue. Nawaz Sharif is doing exactly what Maulana Fazlur Rehman was doing when people were asking him to resign.
infact he is laughing on the public of pakistan!
@Sheikh: If he follows what NS is saying then its OK for you otherwise has no self respect.
Wow Man, Gilani really exposed Sharif brothers, challenged to resign is the biggest test for these Sharif brothers, they know they have lost popularity and IK will sweep the elections of they dont make arrangements being in power... IK was right, Zardari have price for everyone and they're all dancing on his tunes...
Nawaz Sharif should not make PML-N a laughing stock and wait for detailed SC decision before jumping to the conclusion. After reviewing full court decision, he will have full support from the other political parties and public at large.
Solo flights like this, without any homework, will tend towards failure and prove in-effective.
Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
If ever there was an ex-PM of any country with cabbage instead of a brain, then his name has to be Gilani. Our ex-PM has set such high standards of nonsensical behaviour and that it would be hard for anyone to follow in his footsteps. A new English term could instead be coined to describe a PM or Ministerial nonsense as being Galanied, says Baby.
Gillani has absolutely no self-respect.