Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took to the floor of the House on Friday, orating a fiery speech in which he said that irrespective of the decisions (of the courts), “an elected prime minister cannot not be removed without the due process”.
“I also want to tell Madam Speaker that you are not merely a post office. You also have to apply your own mind on disqualification,” he added. “But, if the parliament de-notifies me, I will be honored. This is up to the custodian of the House,” Gilani said. Gilani earlier exposed the hollow claims of PML-N of not allowing him to enter the House when he made an entry as well as a lengthy speech.
In response to threats given by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan the other day, Prime Minister Gilani challenged the opposition to bring a no confidence motion against him. Speaking in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Gilani said nobody could remove him from his office except the speaker.
“Am I not an elected prime minister? Do I not represent 180 million people of Pakistan? Nobody can remove me from the office of the prime minister except you, Madam speaker. This is in the law and the constitution,” he said in his first address in the National Assembly after his conviction by the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Gilani received warm welcome upon his arrival in the House and loud desk thumping and standing ovation by the treasury forced three to four PML-N parliamentarians present in the House to leave.
Gilani lambasted the PML-N, its leadership and Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, saying nobody could impose his decision or wish on us. “We are elected people and strived to uphold the constitution and respect of institutions … they cannot act like God. We have majority in both the Houses of the parliament. They (Nawaz, Shahbaz and Nisar) should respect others. I challenge them if they have courage, they should move a no confidence motion against me,” Gilani asserted. He questioned how they (PML-N parliamentarians and leaders) could not allow a unanimously elected prime minister in the House. “One brother (Shahbaz Sharif) does not accept the president, other (Nawaz Sharif) refuses to accept the prime minister. The entire PML-N does not accept Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf,” Gilani said.
He said just a day earlier, Nisar had wished him good-luck for the court verdict, but after conviction, they announced not to allow him in the House.
He said anyone considering the PPP’s political reconciliation as its weakness lived in a fools’ paradise. Gilani said after Pervez Musharraf toppled Nawaz Sharif’s government in 1999, he had announced not to accept any such parliament lacking Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif. “We had condemned it at a time when people of their own party were silent. I had contended that it was unconstitutional step and thus unacceptable to me,” said the prime minister. He said they launched a movement and also supported the one initiated by Kalsoom Nawaz, but as both brothers left for abroad, the opposition alliance was shocked.
However, the Charter of Democracy was signed later thinking that democracy should not be derailed, adding that the PPP could have changed loyalties of the people if had desired so. “I would prefer to sit in opposition than to change loyalties of the people,” Gilani commented. “Musharraf had suggested the PML-Q to form an alliance with the PPP and establish its rule but we declined it … we supported them in Punjab. They formed coalition with us in federation. But later, the worst picture painted by their finance minister incurred huge loss to the country. They thought it would lead to fresh elections and they would stand victorious,” he recalled.
The prime minister said the government had been maintaining coalition with all political parties, minor or major. “But they (PML-N) cannot do so even for a single day. They are too egoistic. We have accommodated them too by allocating funds worth billions of rupees,” he stated.
The PM said the opposition members were given equal funds under the Benazir Income Support Program. “But contrarily in Punjab, opposition members are not allocated development funds …my son is an MPA in Punjab. He too is not allocated development fund,” he said.
He claimed that the PML-N would have toppled the government in a second had it got a chance.
Defending his act of not writing letter to Swiss authorities for reopening graft cases against President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani questioned: “What is my fault? What wrong have I committed? I have protected the constitution of the country.”
He said the very parliament had passed the 18th, 19th and 20th amendments, but no one neither objected on presidential immunity nor even submitted any dissenting note. He said across the world, heads of states enjoyed immunity under Vienna Convention that also remained part of constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973, then why this immunity was not for the incumbent president. “I have been convicted neither on financial or moral corruption. I have been convicted just because of protecting the constitution,” Gilani commented.
“When we talk of judiciary, you support the parliament. When we talk of parliament, you side with the judiciary. First you should decide on which side you are? I want to tell that I am with parliament, which is the will of the people,” he commented. The prime minister said it was for the first time that people were congratulating on a conviction, because the government had taken a principled stance to protect the constitution, not to hide corruption. He advised the opposition to refrain from making tall claims as they could not stop him from entering the House as if they did not accept him as prime minister, he was at least member of the House.
“Don’t treat me as prime minister but I am member of this august House. Yes, you should not accept me as member too if the speaker de-notifies me. But there is a process comprising appeal as well as speaker’s notice,” he added.
Where is the coward kiyani hiding? I wonder how much is he taking for staying quiet? This crime minister is implying that he has the right to interpret constitition. By extension, he is also implying that the supreme court does not understand the constittution. If he was a honorable man, he would have resigned and fought his case instaed of clinging to power at any cost. What a shameful act.
I wonder how much is kiayani taking for keeping quiet? What a disgrace to the army.
Kamran, I have to disagree with you. Our Army is very corrupt & needs to be kept out of politics. Kiyani is no good but atleast hes keeping quiet as he should.
SGYKhan, I agree that the army is corrupt. More so in the last 20 years than it has ever been before. I also agree with you that they need to be kept out of (active) politics. My point is that untill the masses are educated enough that they see political leaders for who they really are instead of following them blindly, we need some sort of check on the govt. Judiciary has failed to do so. Politicians will absolutely not self regulate. Army is the only (somewhat) organized institution left that can have influence on the rulers. If they lose fearing army, there is nothing that would stop them from going to any extreme. Our democracy is not mature enough and our leaders are not patriotic enough to trust them with running every aspect of the govt.
SGYKhan, I can't seem to post my comment. I do agree with you that army should not be involved in active politics but untill our democracy matures enough and our people educated enough, we need the govt. to have some fear of some organization that is powerful enough to have a sway on them. Our judiciary has not been able to do that so far.
Bless you for mentioning education. The single biggest obstacle we face.
The fear should come from the public, being answerable to the people. Unfortunately they have that cordoned off by having filthy feudal lords controlling their army. Balochistan Bugtis being the prime example.
You want the democratically elected government thrown by the Army…Punjabi/Jihadi boy!
You r most shameless commentator to hv invited army
Ch Nisar, please come on with no-confidence against the PM or quit the house
Well done Prime Minister. Your opponents must try to remove you by a vote of no confidence, otherwise they must stop making undue noise. Sir, as long as you have majority in the Parliament nothing is going to happen to you or members of your family. Make the best possible use of this time and make as much money as you and members of your family could possibly make. Sir! Time and tide waits for no one. In this country we worship rich and powerful. Democracy is the best revenge. Take revenge from poor and wretched as this is the only opportunity you have.
🙂 Good post Khalid.
+1
TO BE HONEST REAL PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILTY ARE MQM.ANP,Q ,JUIF THEY ARE SUPPORTING A CONVICT AND PHARONS SURELY ON JUDGEMENT DAY THEY ALONG WITH ZADARI/GILANI WILL BE MOST WORRIED (because they all proved to be morden day pharos and supporting other pharos )
ALSO PMLN IF THEY DO NOT RESIGN FROM ASSEMBLY
What to say; Lagay Raho "Munna Bhai"
WHAT TO SAY: LAGAY RAHO "MUNNA BHAI"
the type of nation we are , we only deserve kiani , nawaz , zardari and gilani. JAISI QUAM AISAY JUTAY >
PPP has outclassed PML-N in every manner as far as power politics is concerned. PML-N is left reeling politically and has no answer to the political shrewdness of PPP
Mr prime minister rather "crime minister"! You have made a record, you are the first
ever chief executive of a country in the world who has been convicted and still holding
the office .Ask your conscience whether you are ashamed or proud of it and do share
it with us.
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