Says NRO, Memogate created problems in civil-military
relations; claims PPP government undertook many projects
During my entire tenure I’ve been a darling of both the judiciary and the armed forces except on two counts; Gwadar agreement was signed during my period and it is such a project that forms the basis of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); contrary to the prevailing, false propaganda against my government, we launched many development projects including the energy and infrastructure projects whose details are available on record and it is on the basis of these projects that the present Nawaz government is making progress in the aforesaid two areas of development.
These views were expressed by former Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani, during an exclusive talk with The News two days prior to the release of his son Ali Haider Gillani from Afghan province Ghazni.
The former Prime Minister was asked to explain the two exceptions to his claim that he had been darling of both the judiciary and the armed forces besides explaining this very concept of darling of the two institutions. Gillani replied, “The media is always publishing reports based on the claims of the government leaders that the elected, civilian government and the security establishment or the armed services were on the same page. If one were to analyze the things in their true perspective, it would be revealed that the real one-page situation among all the national institutions existed during my incumbency. Rather the atmosphere was that of complete inter-institution harmony that can be termed as bigger than mere one-page understanding. The people know well that I ordered the Swat Operation as the chief executive of the country with the complete consensus of not only the armed forces’ top brass and other key functionaries like DG ISI but also with the consensus of political forces holding diverse opinions on the issue. The harmony that was achieved at that stage is remembered to this day as ideal harmony that some people like to term grand national harmony. While the credit goes to political parties adhering to different points of view, the credit also went to my government since I invited even those politicians whose representation in the parliament was nominal.”
Gillani asserted that the harmony between the institutions was at its peak during his days and the supremacy of the people’s elected parliament was acknowledged even by the establishment’s top notches.
“I’m positive you remember that the then Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and DG ISI, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, made their appearance before the parliamentarians which finds no precedents in country’s political history. Not only that, these senior generals also gave in-camera briefings to the elected representatives during those days.”
When asked to explain what were two exceptions in the context of ideal civil-military relations, Gillani said, “Problems arose on the issues of Memogate and NRO implementation. I had a different opinion on the latter issue. I was not an NRO beneficiary, but still I was made a victim. I had then asserted that I’m under oath and that the President enjoyed complete immunity inside and outside the country. Still I was made to face the music and a reference was sent to the Speaker National Assembly to look into the question whether I stood disqualified under Articles 62 and 63. After intensive consultations, the Speaker ruled out ‘Not Disqualified’. But Mr Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry took suo motu notice and decided not against the PM but against the parliament”.
“Unfortunately, there have been two laws in the country. I was imprisoned for allegations relating to my days of Speakership whereas a Chairman Senate was exonerated on similar charges. The former PM also drew a comparison between systems of accountability. He said, “Army’s accountability is done through court martial; judiciary’s by Supreme Judicial Council and public representatives’ matter has to go to Public Accounts Committee (PAC). My issue was not sent to PAC but to NAB, ending up in my imprisonment whereas now after 15 years the same audit paras on the basis of which I was convicted, have been sent to PAC. How can you make a dead man alive? It is just like declaring someone innocent posthumous after executing him. Will NAB apologize to me for this? As for Memogate, Ambassador Haqqani was made to resign and misgivings were addressed properly.
To what extent the Swat Operation was successful, the former PM was asked. Gillani replied, “ The areas over there were cleared of all kinds of terrorists and terrorist activities and networks. The Operation was well-planned and well-timed. Yet greater success was that 2.5 million IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) were sent back to their homes in less than 90 days in a completely transparent manner.
This is unprecedented in world history.”
What was done by his government in the energy sector, Gillani was asked. He replied, “I paved the way for the construction of the mega project of Diamer Basha Dam and I didn’t allow it to become Kalabagh Dam. I laid down the foundation- stone of Diamer Basha Dam and I ensured the payment of compensation of the acquired land (for the Dam) to the tune of billions of rupees. I also brought it on the agenda of Council of Common Interests (CCI) as I wanted that all must agree on this project of national interest. Some of the participants did try to buy time but I told them candidly and firmly that they would be allowed to leave the meeting room only after they had arrived at the consensus on Diamer Basha Dam.”
The former PM added: “I was so keenly interested in this mega hydel project that I went all along to the site along with half a dozen ministers of my cabinet although the agencies told me that the conditions were not conducive for my visit as there were serious security threats as gathered from intercepted conversation. I addressed the gathering openly without using the bullet proof screen for 40 minutes instead of the proposed 15 minutes.
I also went to the United States and met World Bank management to convince them to fund this project. Everybody was on board at that time and our efforts were acknowledged even abroad especially our efforts that made Diamer non-controversial”.
Talking about other energy projects, Gillani told this scribe that Mangla Raising was also initiated by his government and that “my name is still there on the plaque under Ayub Khan’s name”.
He informed further that Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline’s foundation stone was laid by President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart.
“In addition, we held a number of meetings for CASA-100 project besides finalizing agreement with Iran for supply of electricity”.
Giving some details of his works in the infrastructure sector, Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani told The News that some of the recently launched projects under the banner of PML-N government owed much to the groundwork done at a reasonable scale by his government. He quoted the example of Faisalabad-Multan Motorway project and stated that he laid down the foundation stone on both sides. “One major achievement of our government is that land had been transferred to some mega infrastructure projects during our times and besides that necessary funds had been lined up thus facilitating the completion of such projects in the times to come”.
“Another big success in the area of communications network was that my government built Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Bridge at Nashtar Ghat, a junction of three provinces that not only reduced the distances by scores of kilometres but also laid the basis for the future governments to complete the wider connectivity network among provinces. The Sukkur-Multan Motorway which has been undertaken by the present government also got facilitation from our government’s networking schemes and from our projects that formed the basis of many projects of present times. And these projects of our days can be placed in the state-of-the-art category”.
“My government also totally built up New Multan Airport which was subsequently inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who also invited me to the inauguration ceremony”.
