No martial law, no mid-term polls: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Denying demands from various quarters for mid-term elections, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said being the protector of the parliament, he would never dissolve the assembly.
“There are two ways of going for mid-term elections… either I dissolve the assembly or martial law is imposed in the country… but none of the two will happen,” a Gilani replied to PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi’s point of order criticising the government and demanding mid-term elections.
The prime minister said several political parties were represented in parliament and their mandate should be respected. “Those who demand mid-term elections should also explain to how this will happen. I am here to protect parliament and I will never dissolve the assembly. If anyone thinks about a military coup, he is mistaken. The army is pro-democracy and will never impose martial law,” he said.
He said the House enjoyed the support of the entire nation. “We have been elected by the people of the country and we cannot follow any individual’s aspirations,” he said, rebuffing Abbasi’s demand. “If you talk about snap polls, see the results of the by-elections. Let’s hold local bodies’ elections and you will get your popularity tested,” he challenged the PML-N.
The prime minister said that the government was ready to improve governance under the guidance of the opposition. “I have asked the PML-N to first explain what the Charter of Pakistan is all about then we will proceed,” he said.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, MNA Abbasi said that the government had failed to address the people’s problems. “It is the gang of forty thieves which is looting the country,” he said, adding that the PML-N could not afford to be a friendly opposition anymore.
“We cannot allow the government to play with the country for five years. It is a routine democratic tradition in the western countries to go for mid-term polls, if the government fails to deliver, people’s true representatives can be elected again,” Abbasi said.
SACRIFICE: Separately, talking to Senate Chairman Farooq Naik at the Prime Minister’s House, Gilani said that the Pakistan People’s Party had rendered lots of sacrifices for revival of democratic process in the country and it would not allow anyone to derail the democratic process.
“The country has already suffered heavily at the hands of dictatorial regimes on account of their short-sighted policies. The government has worked hard to put the system back on track because progress and development is unimaginable in the absence of representative institutions,” he said.
He said the local government elections, which are due next year, would help resolve the public’s grievances at the local level. He also apprised the Senate chairman about the implementation of the 18th Amendment.