National Assembly session: Gilani tries to calm PML-N nerves

Prime minister says coalition-building not a plot by intelligence agencies.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani sought to calm the apprehensions of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, after a speech given by the PML-N parliamentary leader accusing intelligence agencies of meddling in politics.

Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had earlier given an impassioned speech about the potential role of intelligence agencies in the recent creation of a broad-based coalition led by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that also includes the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The PML-N leader appeared to be expressing his party’s fears of political encirclement.

The prime minister, however, contended that the coalition building was a normal democratic exercise and had nothing to do with intelligence agencies. Gilani, however, did not confirm whether a coalition has been successfully formed.

He advised the PML-N to have a little more faith in their popularity and not use unbecoming language against other politicians.

“You guys are elected people. People have elected you and you should have confidence on power of your votes,” said the prime minister.

Gilani’s speech included several overtures to the PML-N. The prime minister said he would welcome any ideas from the opposition on how to solve some of the nation’s most pressing problems.

Nisar had earlier lashed out at nearly every major political party, either explicitly or implicitly, accusing them of playing into the hands of intelligence agencies, in a display of the increasing sense of isolation that PML-N leaders appear to be going through.

He referred to Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) as a “test-tube politician”, though not by name. He pointed out the hypocrisy – again without naming names – of the PPP and PML-Q joining hands in a coalition only a short while after the PPP having levelled accusations of murder against the PML-Q.

Nisar also claimed that he had evidence that intelligence agencies were trying to break away members of his party. Although he did not cite names, he appeared to be referring to PML-N leader Javed Hashmi, who last week asked PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to apologise to the nation for doing deals with dictators.

Hashmi was sidelined by the party after he went against PML-N policy and supported the creation of a Seraiki province, an issue that has resurfaced in recent weeks, with the PPP, the PML-Q and the MQM all supporting such a move which the PML-N views as a means to divide the party’s vote bank.

Monday’s speech was the second time that Nisar has lashed out against intelligence agencies. The first time was several weeks ago when he threatened to use his position as chairman of the public accounts committee to scrutinise the military and intelligence budgets.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2011.