As Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani finished his fiery speech in the National Assembly on Thursday, the Awami National Party’s Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced their parties’ support for the views expressed by Gilani, saying that both parties would oppose any undemocratic move against the elected government and parliament.
However, interestingly, no member from other coalition partners such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), FATA or other smaller groups extended their support to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led government.
Speaking on a point of order, Bilour said his party fully supported the views of Gilani as parliament, judiciary, executive, and the media were four pillars of the democratic system. He said parliament was sovereign and was not answerable to any institution and all institutions were answerable to parliament.
Reportedly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan – who belongs to the PML-Nawaz (PML-N) – had already given his party’s assurance of support to Prime Minister Gilani on Wednesday during his quiet meeting with the premier at his chambers at Parliament House and both leaders had agreed to question the presence of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad to make the government’s case strong.
Speaking on a point of order, Nisar also assured that his party would not support any undemocratic step against the government.
“Had we any intention to send the democratic setup packing, we would have done that some three years back when Asif Ali Zardari had breached his promises made with the establishment and my party that he would not become president,” he said. The PML-N had categorically opposed any possibility of martial law in the country, he added.
Nisar said further that the Defence Ministry’s statement that operational matters of the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) did not fall under its ambit was frightening.
“If both institutions are not under the Defence Ministry, whom do they fall under?” he asked. He said this situation should have been averted. He also criticised the prime minister for making illogical statements, advising the premier not to use the words ‘martial law’. He also criticised the government for not pressing for its writ on the security establishment, stating that when the ISI chief was summoned to the joint session of parliament after the US raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout, the authoritative language of the army officer suggested that he had summoned the joint session to answer his queries, rather than the fact that parliament had summoned him to be answerable. He said such behaviour by the government had made the army officers think that they were above the law.
“The words ‘martial law’ are a stigma to this country, our people, society and democratic system. We would not accept any undemocratic move. We have never sided with any general nor did we conspire against the government. Despite breach of accords by President Zardari, we did not become a part of any conspiracy against the government,” he added.
He said since signing the Charter of Democracy, his party was firm in its commitment.
