Swiss letter impasse: Gilani offers to resign, but says it will not help
But, in the same breath, he added that his resignation will not resolve the issue of president’s immunity and that the matter should be referred to Parliament.
“The president cannot revoke his own immunity unless Parliament amends the Constitution,” Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said while talking to a select-group of journalists at his residence on Sunday.
“My suggestion to the (apex) court is that the issue of immunity should be referred to Parliament like the issue of the appointment of judges was referred to Parliament [and resolved] in the form of 19th Amendment,” the premier said.
Court appearance
Gilani said neither he, nor his lawyer Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, will appear before the Supreme Court on the March 21 hearing of the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) implementation case since, the premier said, he believed it is not related to him.
The court had earlier asked the premier directly to write a letter to Swiss authorities, and submit a report regarding the implementation of the NRO judgment by March 21.
Gilani said the March 21 hearing is related to the NRO implementation case, to which he is not a party, and that his counsel is arguing before the court in the contempt case.
The premier refused to share his party’s contingency strategy in the event that he is convicted in the contempt case.
“I have restored the Constitution and strengthened the judiciary … if it punishes me, what can I do,” Gilani said. “It is a simple issue. I can do nothing before the judiciary,” he said.
The prime minister added that there were repercussions of the premier being repeatedly called to the court – a negative impact on the economy, the stock exchange, and that the international community, which is monitoring this case, has also expressed its concerns.
The judiciary is aware of the impact but everyone should respect the law, he said.
ISI, Balochistan and energy
On the abolition of the political cell in the country’s premier intelligence agency, Gilani said the Inter-Services Intelligence is an important institution and we should protect it instead of targeting it.
He said he has not yet met the newly-appointed ISI chief, Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, and will receive a briefing on it when he does.
He said he will also hold a press conference soon on the implementation of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package and resolutions in this regard.
The premier said his government has resolved half of the outstanding circular debt so far while the remaining will be dealt with in the upcoming budget.
Foreign Policy
Pakistan has not demanded an apology from United States over the Salala check post attack as a precondition for resumption of bilateral ties, the premier said.
Parliament will approve new terms of engagement with the United States and resumption of Nato supply route in a joint session scheduled for March 20, he said.
Recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security will be discussed in that session, the premier said, adding that this will be the first time that foreign policy is devised in Parliament.
He refused to comment on the recommendations but added that US is not the only country affected by blockade on Nato supply routes.
“Forty-seven countries are part of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), the Nato-led mission in Afghanistan, including 27 countries of the European Union,” he added.
Talking about trade expansion with India, the premier said that Most-Favoured Nation status simply means non-discrimination in trade, and that he has asked authorities concerned to change the misleading terminology.
The premier also hit out at the opposition PML-N, saying it is the biggest hurdle in the formation of a new province in Southern Punjab – whether that is the Seraiki or the Bahawalpur province.
The PML-N has not allowed passing a resolution in the provincial assembly in this regard, he said.
(Read: The prime minister and the SC)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2012.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Parvez Amin: Sir you are exactly right. I stand corrected. All I wanted to say was differentiate the elected reps of people from the career paid servants. But you are right we should all be the servants of people. Thanks for being civil and regards, Mirza
Mr. PM Gillani this is much the best and need of the hour that you have to resign from premiership yourself voluntarily now to close and end the clash and collapse between the government and the judiciary and announce the early elections by following the option No. 6 given to you by the Supreme Court instead of insisting on the completion of PPP's 5-year tenure because Pakistan's and its nation's internal and external security conditions have been on the edge in your this fight like cat and dog with Supreme Court.
PM is trying to become a political shaheed and he is desperately trying to no avail.
I wish he tried to govern and make some harsh and tough decisions for the betterment of pakistan. they robbed the government enough for four years, now please do something positive on your way out so at least you'll not be ashamed to ask for vote in next election.
@ Mirza
The Indian tool at work
@RizwanTKhan: So... You say he's after sympathy for elections so the right choice is to throw him in jail which would get him even more sympathy?
I say through PM in jail.. This is PPP tactics to gain sympathy of people for next election. Disgraceful PPP.
We Pakistanis do not want a PM who does not obey SC orders.
Please do it immediately and save this unfortunate nation from the depression of seeing you face
PM should not show any weakness to this media hungry judiciary. Parliament is supreme and so is its constitutional provisions. We need democratic mind set.
@A. Khan: I totally agree with all your requests and want to add one more. Did she shop for personal use of resale at a profit? Incidentally, rumor has it that the Top Mrs. spent PKR 18-crore. How many starving people could we have fed with that amount?
@Mirza: You are not a paid govt servant...
Mirza Sahib I must disagree. Any person paid by the State is a servant. A servant of the awam, the masters of a republic, such as Pakistan.
And why not the federal Government seeks an interpretation of Article 248 from the apex court, that would completely solve the problem Mr. Pm.
To bring looted money back from Swiss Accounts and some other Foreign Accounts of corrupt politician is more important than the resignation of PM Gilani.
If PM Gilani is obliged that he was nominated as Prime Minister by President Asif Ali Zardari in lieu of Amin Faheem, otherwise he would have never became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in his life and thus cannot act against the President, this is some thing else, but he should not say that it is written in the Constitution that he cannot write against the President.
The Constitution says that every member of the Assembly has to protect the interest of Pakistan and no where it is written in the Constitution that under the Article of so and so, PM Gilani will protect the interest of Asif Ali Zardari.
You have deceived the court all this time. You should be sent to jail (full stop).
Great!!!! What the international community think about Corruption and your committment to improve the standard of poors living?
You have given the country worst governance that it has ever got and made corruption a way of life.Resign and please never come back
We, the people, accept in advance, without any regrets. We can and will live with the consequences. We did so when Bhutto was hanged and we shall do so again.
Perhaps you should spend your time decorating your personal house with the stuff Mrs. Gilani bought at Harrods in London. Rumour has it that it took 3 trucks to cart it away. Did she buy her own ticket to London or is it all at government expense ? And who paid Harrod's bill of several hundred thousand pounds ? And how much did you and wife pay in taxes last year ? Please release full details of your taxes. Pakistani public has a right to know.
You are elected PM of the country with full mandate from all provinces and parties. You are not a paid govt servant who has never conspired to break the constitution. The parliament should reassert itself and tell the judges in simple words what the constitution clearly says.
We the people accept you resigination
We are not interested in Parliament's current opinion on Presidential immunity. The SC is deciding on the basis that existed at the time the Memogate events occured. The PM should resign and wait to see if his forecast materializes. The PM's loyalty to the President is unquestionable -- his choice is not.
PM, please resign. We can live with any consequences.