Prime Minister Gilani challenges PML-N to bring a no-confidence motion

Challenging the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to bring a no-confidence motion against him, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said he is an elected premier and will go in the same way.

While speaking to the media along with PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, he observed, “If anyone has the courage to call for a no-confidence motion against me or call for the president’s impeachment, they should do so”.

The prime minister said he would remain the chief executive of the country as long as he enjoyed the support of the parliament and coalition parties.

In his view, he could not be removed from his office through undemocratic methods because gone were the days when the president dismissed prime ministers under Article 58(2B).

Reiterating his previous stance, the prime minister asked the PML-N to resign from assemblies before going for a long march. There is an elected government in the country and not a dictatorship, he added.

Gilani said he knew well that the PML-N would not dare go for a long march, as participation of the Punjab government against any act against the federation would be tantamount to treason.

He clarified that the court had not disqualified him, saying he was convicted for an act that was legal and constitutional.  He observed, “The prime minister has immunity on actions taken in discharge of official duties”.

The premier said the decision to reopen land route for allied forces battling in Afghanistan had not been taken yet and the invitation to Chicago summit was unconditional.

In the meantime, he showed agreement with the formula floated by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to end load shedding in the country. In his view, it was not just an issue for the government but for all political parties.

Gilani was of the opinion that the government took its responsibility and was making efforts to resolve it considering it a major challenge.

However, he said that provinces were free to generate electricity and questioned why provinces were not producing electricity and blaming the Centre for the electricity shortage.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on May 19 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. 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.