The government is on the collision course – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) does not seem budging from its position on writing a letter to the Swiss authorities, come what may. And, the message Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who seems to stand up against all probabilities, conveyed to all without mincing his words was that he would not go alone as after the game the king and the pawn together went in the same box.
The day, starting with the Supreme Court summoning Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on January 19 (Thursday) in person for listening to him before possibly initiating contempt of court proceedings against him for not implementing the decision on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), saw a flurry of political activity and hectic consultations with the government’s allies assuring it to solidly standing with it. While the number-strong government rejected the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-proposed amendments to the pro-democracy resolution, not taking into account the opposition’s demands of implementing all parliamentary resolutions and the Supreme Court’s orders besides ensuring corruption-free governance, the Prime Minister visibly appeared in a defiant mood, albeit he once again said that he did not want confrontation with the army and the judiciary.
The bottom-line of his speech in the National Assembly was that the army and the judiciary must support democracy. His warning to the opposition parties, particularly the PML-N, was that in case his government fell no one would get a chance to replace him. He referred to “the sacrifices” of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto to make a point that he too would not hesitate to follow them for the cause of democracy. This suggested that he was ready to face any eventuality.
Following the government’s continued unwillingness to implement the decision on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), particularly after President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement that the PPP would not seek reopening of the cases in Switzerland, the Supreme Court on Monday finally issued a contempt notice to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. It was expected. This drove the prime minister into a session with some opposition leaders for consultation to see what political solution the political parties, other than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), suggest to avoid a clash between the executive and the judiciary. While he listened to them, he also spoke his heart out and questioned Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha’s secret visit to London without his information.
Aftab Sherpao, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Mahmood Khan Achakzai were requested for a meeting and they obliged the prime minister. During the meeting, all the three seasoned politicians advised him to avoid confrontation with the judiciary and the army besides asking him to write a letter to the Swiss authorities and appear before the Supreme Court. Though the prime minister, a source said, did not commit to act on their suggestions, he, however, expressed his willingness to discuss them with his party and coalition partners.
As hectic consultations followed this meeting at the PM’s House with the joint parliamentary party (of all coalition partners) meeting was called there and President Asif Ali Zardari also joined the congress of the allies to discuss the situation and evaluate all possible scenarios in case of the prime minister’s facing the contempt of court. The president and the prime minister also remained in session for a one-on-one meeting which triggered a spate of speculations, later denied by the presidency, that the latter had offered to resign.
The coalition partners fully reposed confidence in the Prime Minister and decided that before the Supreme Court. President Zardari, however, told the meeting that there was no clash between the institutions and the PPP always respected all the institutions, especially the courts. However, a source said his tone was bitter when he recounted the events that led to the impasse with the army and the judiciary. But the intention of the government will be clear when the Prime Minister appears before the Supreme Court.
