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If convicted will no longer be PM, MNA: Gilani
DOHA: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in an interview, said corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari were "politically motivated" and that the president had immunity as head of state.The premier's statements were aired on the eve of a hearing at which he faces indictment for contempt of court over his refusal to request the reopening of corruption cases against his party boss, President Asif Ali Zardari.
"There had been a lot of cases against him, and they were all politically motivated," Gilani told Al Jazeera television, referring to Zardari.
"He has got immunity. And he has not got immunity only in Pakistan, he has transnational immunity, even all over the world."
Asked if he would rather resign for the sake of the president, Gilani said if convicted of contempt, he would automatically lose his office so there was no need for him to quit.
"There's no need to step down," he said. "If I'm convicted, then I'm not supposed to be a member of the parliament."
In the wide-ranging interview, Gilani also criticised US drone attacks against miltiants as counter-productive and said authorities in Islamabad gave no authorisation for them.
"I want to inform you that we did not allow or give permission to fly drones from Pakistan," he said.
"Number two, drones are counterproductive. And we had discussed thoroughly with the US administration that we at times make a lot of efforts to very successfully isolate militants from the local tribes."
Drone attacks generated negative reaction, he said, with tribesmen in areas bordering Afghanistan.
"Then the local tribes and the militants, they get united again," he said. "They make our jobs extremely difficult. Then there is less political space for us."
Gilani also said he had "good relations" with the military "at the moment".
That was a reference to tensions pitting the civilian government against the military over a memo sent to the Pentagon seeking US help in preventing a feared military coup after the U.S. commando raid in Pakistan that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
When asked about the resumption of Nato supplies, the prime minister replied that Pakistan was rewriting its rules of engagement with Nato/Isaf and it would be up to parliament to decide if the route would be reopened or not.
Courtesy www.geo.tv