PM alive to palace intrigue

Gilani cancels scheduled trip to Europe in a move to keep a close eye on the unfolding political situation.


Kamran Yousaf September 25, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Amid apparent intrigue against his rule, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has cancelled a scheduled trip to the European capital in a move to keep a close eye on the unfolding political situation.

Gilani was to attend the Asia-Europe summit, as well as a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan scheduled for October in Brussels, the Belgian and European capital, officials said on Friday.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will now lead the Pakistan delegation instead.

The Foreign Office spokesman confirmed the  cancellation but said that the PM had taken the decision in view of his preoccupations with the post-flood situation.

However, sources claim the development has more to do with the ‘fragile’ political situation in the country.

For the last few days, the country is in the grip of widespread speculation of change at the top.

Sensing the impending threat, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had a series of high-level meetings this week to dismiss rumours that its two and half year rule was on the way out.

The cancelation of the trip is also being linked to the developments taking place in the Supreme Court, which ordered the Gilani administration to implement its verdict against the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

On Friday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remarked that Gilani should know the consequences of non-implementing the court orders.

Legal and constitutional experts are of the opinion that the Supreme Court can issue contempt of court notice to the PM if his government remains adamant on the issue of reviving Swiss cases against President Zardari.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2010.

Defending politicians, he said they had always been belittled on one pretext of the other. “It has become a common practice to level accusations against politicians without any proof.”

“Approach the courts if there is any complaint against us. We have faced the courts in the past and are ready even now,” Gilani said.

Referring to the issue of promotions of senior bureaucrats, the prime minister said that the Supreme Court’s verdict has been implemented in letter and spirit.

He said there were no rules regarding promotion of government officers from BPS-21 to BPS-22 and it was the discretion of the chief executive of the country to promote them.

However, he said, he had asked the Establishment Division to frame rules for their promotion on the direction of the Supreme Court and that he had implemented all recommendations made by the selection board for their promotions.

In a bid to defend the elevation of Kamran Lashari as the chief secretary of Sindh, Gilani said: “It is our duty to defend bureaucracy. I have constituted a committee to provide him an opportunity to submit his point of view. He is a senior bureaucrat. How can he go unheard?”

On Dr Aafia’s conviction, the prime minister said that the government is making serious efforts for her release and return to Pakistan.

“I have asked the interior minister to find a way, including an agreement (if possible) with the US government for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui,” Gilani said though he warned that the government did not want to create new legal issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Abdul Rahman Khan | 13 years ago | Reply There is absolutely no doubt there is an all-time high corruption from very top to bottom. prices of daily necessities are sky-rocketing, poor getting poorer and rich richer, country's economy has nose-dived - floods and mismanagement to be blamed for that, target killing, robbery and all sorts of acts of lawlessness are taking place in today's pakistan. Having said all this, it is not appropriate to change the government through palace intrigues. Indications foretell attempts in offing to table a no-confidence motion against the Gilani government. Nawaz Sharif's period of 'No Political Activity' under the musharraf-saudi deal is nearing and MQM is also not happy on not enjoying as much power in the present sind government as it was enjoying during musharraf's rule. While nawaz sharif is now impatient to come into power, MQM wants to grab more powers in the new set up for supporting the new move. One may or may not differ with Musharraf's rule but the last aeemblies which had completed their term had brought in some stability. His policies resulted in stable economy. It will be unwise to topple the present government and the country will again move in the vicious circle.Gilani government has completed half term let it complete the other half as well.Judiciary is over-exercising its powers as it did during musharraf's rule. Army or judiciary or army and judiciary supported by self-seeking politicians should not unseat the present government through intrigues and unconstitutional means. Small provinces, especially sind and baluchistan will have genuiine grievances if such change was brought about. Moreover, if MQM becomes an active player in this intrigue, the whole province of sind will plunge into violence and lawleswsness.
Amanat ali | 13 years ago | Reply If Gillani is really a PM then why he is requesting these NRO facilitated peoples to resign he itself should take the action rather than requesting. No sympathy for these corrupt politicians, bureaucrates and others. The NRO was only for specific peoples to oblige other wise there many peoples still in the jail and did not get relief under this law. But no relief for anyone who is corrupt at all.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ