Testing times for Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani

Cynics of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani may think that his days in the PM Secretariat have been counted after a contempt of court notice by the Supreme Court.

Conversely, his followers believe that it is not more than a notice and the premier will explain his position before the court. He has many options including defending his actions, offering an unconditional apology or leaving himself on pity of the court.

It is yet to be determined what really happens and largely depends on how Gilani responds to the notice of the contempt of court. There were also few reports that the premier will resign from his post before going to the court.

Gilani, only a day earlier, on January 15, rendered his support to a full-throated democracy and supremacy of the Constitution. He also stated that he was only answerable to parliament rather any other individual.

It is known by everyone that he made this statement after the military chief reportedly asked President Asif Ali Zardari to instruct the premier to retract his statement about army leadership in complete or to give public explanation.

The premier while speaking to a Chinese newspaper stated that army and ISI chiefs submitted their replies to the Supreme Court violating the constitutional parameters, in the infamous memogate scam.

While showing his stance about answering various entities and groups was concerned, Gilani stated that the security institutions had a constitutional role to play as well.  In his view, everyone will acknowledge that the military establishment had exceeded its role assigned by the Constitution.

Apart from his backtracks, the role of premier in defending democracy and paramount of parliament as well as the elected government should be commendable.

People, who cannot afford another military regime, must applaud politics of reconciliation of Prime Minister Gilani. Of course, all this will mean nothing to him if he is found guilty of contempt of court.

In case of such situation, the premier would have to step down and would be banned from contesting polls for a fixed period of time. However, everything is depends on his stance before the apex court on January 19, when he will appear in the contempt of court notice.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=9469

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 17 2012. Filed under Opinion, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.