News
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Gilani dares opposition to try no-trust move* Gilani says resolution for ‘democracy’ not against any institution
* Says Opp bring amendment for cutting short parliament tenure
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A confident prime minister on Friday threw down the gauntlet to opposition to bring a no-confidence motion in parliament, saying he does not need a vote of confidence.
In an apparent reference to the PML-N’s consideration of a no-confidence move against him, Gilani said those who wanted to initiate a no-confidence motion in parliament “are free to do so.”
Speaking in the National Assembly before ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan tabled a ‘pro-democracy resolution’, Gilani said the government would not beg support from anyone and prefers to go to masses. He said the resolution is not against any institution, the judiciary or army, adding, “It is about supporting the democratic process and for the continuity of parliamentary system in the country.”
Gilani also asked opposition members to bring constitutional amendment if they wanted to cut short the tenure of the prime minister or parliament. “It is not difficult for the House to bring any amendment because it has already made 103 amendments,” the premier said.
However, he said opposition would achieve nothing if the government was removed “forcibly”. He said opposition members should decide whether there should be democracy or dictatorship. The prime minister reiterated that government was not against any state institution and negated the perception that the assembly session had been convened against any institution.
“We have not come here to seek martyrdom nor are we seeking support on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO),” Gilani said.
He, however, questioned the “silence” of opposition against the founder of NRO. “NRO was not made by this government … but our opponents are talking about presumed beneficiaries of this ordinance”. Gilani said he and his allies had rendered sacrifices for the independence of judiciary. “We went to jail for judges and faced treason cases for supporting Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.” The prime minister said parliament has credit of summoning the chief of army staff and ISI director general to brief parliamentarians. He called removal of the PML-N’s government in 1999 a conspiracy against the elected government that had a two-thirds majority. The prime minister agreed to defer the voting on the resolution till Monday, saying that despite having a majority in the House, “the government does not want to bulldoze opposition but prefers to take it along”.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan slammed the government for calling the assembly’s session without taking opposition parties into confidence. He said there was no threat to parliament and democracy, adding that there was need o avoid the course of confrontation among the institutions.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk