PM fears ouster, rejects ‘state within state’
December 23, 2011
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday came out strongly against ‘conspiracies’ being hatched against it, with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani revealing intrigues against the democratic set-up for its ouster.
“Intrigues are on to pack up the elected government but I want to tell them that whether we remain in the government or in opposition, we will continue to protect and fight for the rights of the people,” he said while addressing a gathering at the launch of an exhibition of rare photographs of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Pakistan Movement at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) here.
In his speech, the premier did not directly mention who was hatching the conspiracies against the elected government. The prime minister seemed in an aggressive mood despite a bad throat.
Gilani made it clear that there cannot be a state within the state and no institution could claim that it was not under the government. “Every institution of this country, including the Ministry of Defence, is under the Prime Minister of Pakistan. All the state organs should be under parliament and the chief executive of the country,” he added. He said all the institutions get salaries from the national exchequer and parliament is the elected institution of the country.
“There should be no ambiguity about it and nobody can claim that they are independent, and if they do so, then they are mistaken as they are being paid from the national exchequer from the taxes and revenues of the people,” he added.
The prime minister also told the participants that it is the people who have to decide whether they wanted an elected government or dictatorship. Gilani said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah gave us a free country and if we cannot uphold the freedom and protect the rights of the people, then we did not have any right to rule.
He said he had respect for the armed forces for their role in the fight against terrorism and extremism. “But it was the government that gave ownership to the war against terrorism and extremism and accepted the responsibility from the military action by uniting all the political forces of the country,” he said and added that no military could fight without the support of the masses. “I feel proud that I united the country for the military action against extremism,” he said.
The prime minister said the Pakistan armed forces are a disciplined institution but if any individual thinks that he is not under the Constitution, then he is mistaken. “It doesn’t matter whether I remain as the prime minister or not but I have served the longest tenure of 45 months, longer than any other elected prime minister of the country. Zulifikar Ali Bhutto served as the prime minister for 43 months and I have completed 45 months,” he added.
Gilani said we did not come into government for a job, so there is no fear of seizing our salaries. The prime minister said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is our national hero and people from all segments of life struggled for the creation of Pakistan under his leadership. “The people rendered sacrifices in the struggle for Pakistan,” he said.
He said Pakistan’s history had been distorted. “I see the picture of General Ziaul Haq but I don’t see any role of his in the making of Pakistan,” he said, while referring to the incident of the appearance of a picture of the former dictator with the leaders who struggled in the Pakistan movement.
He said his forefathers participated in presenting the Pakistan Resolution in 1940 but when Pakistan came into being in 1947, intrigues were started to derail democracy. “The leaders who stood with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and sacrificed in the struggle for Pakistan, were framed in cases against them,” he added.
He said when Quaid-i-Azam was staying at Ziarat and someone suggested a medicine that had to be purchased from India, he refused to take it, saying that he could not afford it. He said it was unjust to compare any leader with the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “I did not like a comment a day earlier in which it was stated that the Quaid-i-Azam was used to changing political parties,” he added.
He said those who worked with the Quaid, including Syed Hussain Shaheed Soharwardy, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Feroz Khan Noon and others and remained prime ministers of the country, were disqualified and banned on the allegations of corruption. “My father was also disqualified on the allegations that he brought water to Multan that might also benefit the shrine of his ancestors,” he added.
He said allegations of being a traitor were levelled against politicians like Sheikh Majeebur Rehman, Maulana Mudoodi, Wali Khan and Nawab Akbar Bugti in the past. He said the country was broken due to dictatorships and the experiments were carried out. “Dictatorships always brought an under-19 team,” he added.
He said the Ayub dictatorship ruled the country for 10 years and after that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came for a brief period but again Zia imposed dictatorship while hanging Bhutto and sending the whole PPP before military courts. “Then came the Junejo government, which was also dismissed on allegations of corruption, and on the same allegations the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were sent home twice,” he added.
The prime minister asked the audience from where people will be imported. “If they are not us, then someone else will come but he will still be a Pakistani,” he said. He said the vision of Quaid-i-Azam was for a parliamentary democracy in which people elect their representatives.
“The 180 million people of the country are well-aware and they cannot be wrong, and it is not possible that the people are wrong and only some individuals are right as it will be humiliation for the people,” he added.
The prime minister said the country was created in 1947, got its first constitution in 1956 but it was scrapped in 1958, and then Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave a Constitution in 1973, which is now being followed. “We may be bad but it was my government that restored the 1973 Constitution in its original shape,” he added.
He said it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that the president gave all powers to parliament. “The president is a figurehead of the state and all the powers lie with the prime minister, who is the chief executive of the country,” he added.
The prime minister announced Rs2.5 million for the National Archives. Earlier, Secretary Cabinet Division Nargis Sethi in her welcome address threw light on the importance of the National Archives and said it was being developed on scientific lines.
A short while later, Prime Minister Gilani told the National Assembly that the government had the highest regard for the institutions but they could not act as a state within the state. Responding to a point of order raised by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, the prime minister said the government had high regard for the institution of the army but they are also accountable and answerable to parliament. “It is not acceptable if they consider themselves as a state within the state,” he said.
Acknowledging the sacrifices rendered by the country’s armed forces, Prime Minister Gilani said the government in acknowledgement of their sacrifices doubled their salaries, adding they sacrificed their tomorrow for the present of the nation. “But they cannot be a state within the state,” he reiterated, adding that all institutions were answerable to parliament and they were not above the law.
He said the government also supported the institution of the army on the issue of Osama Bin Laden and the attack of Nato forces on a checkpost in Mohmand Agency. Gilani said those who are asking the government to give account of visas issued to Americans should also tell us who gave a visa to Osama Bin Laden who remained here for six years.
The prime minister said the government was answerable to parliament, and that every government had to go through the legislature. Earlier, Chaudhry Nisar said it was horrible to note that the Defence Ministry itself had admitted that the ISI and GHQ were not in its control.
He said the briefing by General Pasha to parliament gave an impression as if he was not called rather the parliamentarians were summoned by him. “Today they are saying that the ISI and GHQ are not under their control. They hooted at me when I tried to ask some questions from the DG ISI,” he said.
Nisar categorically said that they would not allow any undemocratic power to play havoc with the democratic system. On the issue of gas shortage, he said the House should hold a meaningful debate to find a solution to the problem.
Coming down hard on the petroleum minister, Nisar said Dr Asim Hussain could be a good physician but he should admit that he has failed as the minister for petroleum. He regretted that a personal physician and personal servant of a personality was elevated to the post of petroleum minister.
He said if, as the minister says, the CNG stations were consuming a huge quantity of gas, why did the government issue hundreds of NoCs for establishment of CNG stations in the last four years? “There was no gas loadshedding when the government came to power,” he said. He said the government had laid pipelines spread over thousands of miles on political basis but now there was no gas for the people.
“Intrigues are on to pack up the elected government but I want to tell them that whether we remain in the government or in opposition, we will continue to protect and fight for the rights of the people,” he said while addressing a gathering at the launch of an exhibition of rare photographs of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Pakistan Movement at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) here.
In his speech, the premier did not directly mention who was hatching the conspiracies against the elected government. The prime minister seemed in an aggressive mood despite a bad throat.
Gilani made it clear that there cannot be a state within the state and no institution could claim that it was not under the government. “Every institution of this country, including the Ministry of Defence, is under the Prime Minister of Pakistan. All the state organs should be under parliament and the chief executive of the country,” he added. He said all the institutions get salaries from the national exchequer and parliament is the elected institution of the country.
“There should be no ambiguity about it and nobody can claim that they are independent, and if they do so, then they are mistaken as they are being paid from the national exchequer from the taxes and revenues of the people,” he added.
The prime minister also told the participants that it is the people who have to decide whether they wanted an elected government or dictatorship. Gilani said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah gave us a free country and if we cannot uphold the freedom and protect the rights of the people, then we did not have any right to rule.
He said he had respect for the armed forces for their role in the fight against terrorism and extremism. “But it was the government that gave ownership to the war against terrorism and extremism and accepted the responsibility from the military action by uniting all the political forces of the country,” he said and added that no military could fight without the support of the masses. “I feel proud that I united the country for the military action against extremism,” he said.
The prime minister said the Pakistan armed forces are a disciplined institution but if any individual thinks that he is not under the Constitution, then he is mistaken. “It doesn’t matter whether I remain as the prime minister or not but I have served the longest tenure of 45 months, longer than any other elected prime minister of the country. Zulifikar Ali Bhutto served as the prime minister for 43 months and I have completed 45 months,” he added.
Gilani said we did not come into government for a job, so there is no fear of seizing our salaries. The prime minister said Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is our national hero and people from all segments of life struggled for the creation of Pakistan under his leadership. “The people rendered sacrifices in the struggle for Pakistan,” he said.
He said Pakistan’s history had been distorted. “I see the picture of General Ziaul Haq but I don’t see any role of his in the making of Pakistan,” he said, while referring to the incident of the appearance of a picture of the former dictator with the leaders who struggled in the Pakistan movement.
He said his forefathers participated in presenting the Pakistan Resolution in 1940 but when Pakistan came into being in 1947, intrigues were started to derail democracy. “The leaders who stood with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and sacrificed in the struggle for Pakistan, were framed in cases against them,” he added.
He said when Quaid-i-Azam was staying at Ziarat and someone suggested a medicine that had to be purchased from India, he refused to take it, saying that he could not afford it. He said it was unjust to compare any leader with the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “I did not like a comment a day earlier in which it was stated that the Quaid-i-Azam was used to changing political parties,” he added.
He said those who worked with the Quaid, including Syed Hussain Shaheed Soharwardy, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Feroz Khan Noon and others and remained prime ministers of the country, were disqualified and banned on the allegations of corruption. “My father was also disqualified on the allegations that he brought water to Multan that might also benefit the shrine of his ancestors,” he added.
He said allegations of being a traitor were levelled against politicians like Sheikh Majeebur Rehman, Maulana Mudoodi, Wali Khan and Nawab Akbar Bugti in the past. He said the country was broken due to dictatorships and the experiments were carried out. “Dictatorships always brought an under-19 team,” he added.
He said the Ayub dictatorship ruled the country for 10 years and after that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came for a brief period but again Zia imposed dictatorship while hanging Bhutto and sending the whole PPP before military courts. “Then came the Junejo government, which was also dismissed on allegations of corruption, and on the same allegations the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were sent home twice,” he added.
The prime minister asked the audience from where people will be imported. “If they are not us, then someone else will come but he will still be a Pakistani,” he said. He said the vision of Quaid-i-Azam was for a parliamentary democracy in which people elect their representatives.
“The 180 million people of the country are well-aware and they cannot be wrong, and it is not possible that the people are wrong and only some individuals are right as it will be humiliation for the people,” he added.
The prime minister said the country was created in 1947, got its first constitution in 1956 but it was scrapped in 1958, and then Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gave a Constitution in 1973, which is now being followed. “We may be bad but it was my government that restored the 1973 Constitution in its original shape,” he added.
He said it was the first time in the history of Pakistan that the president gave all powers to parliament. “The president is a figurehead of the state and all the powers lie with the prime minister, who is the chief executive of the country,” he added.
The prime minister announced Rs2.5 million for the National Archives. Earlier, Secretary Cabinet Division Nargis Sethi in her welcome address threw light on the importance of the National Archives and said it was being developed on scientific lines.
A short while later, Prime Minister Gilani told the National Assembly that the government had the highest regard for the institutions but they could not act as a state within the state. Responding to a point of order raised by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, the prime minister said the government had high regard for the institution of the army but they are also accountable and answerable to parliament. “It is not acceptable if they consider themselves as a state within the state,” he said.
Acknowledging the sacrifices rendered by the country’s armed forces, Prime Minister Gilani said the government in acknowledgement of their sacrifices doubled their salaries, adding they sacrificed their tomorrow for the present of the nation. “But they cannot be a state within the state,” he reiterated, adding that all institutions were answerable to parliament and they were not above the law.
He said the government also supported the institution of the army on the issue of Osama Bin Laden and the attack of Nato forces on a checkpost in Mohmand Agency. Gilani said those who are asking the government to give account of visas issued to Americans should also tell us who gave a visa to Osama Bin Laden who remained here for six years.
The prime minister said the government was answerable to parliament, and that every government had to go through the legislature. Earlier, Chaudhry Nisar said it was horrible to note that the Defence Ministry itself had admitted that the ISI and GHQ were not in its control.
He said the briefing by General Pasha to parliament gave an impression as if he was not called rather the parliamentarians were summoned by him. “Today they are saying that the ISI and GHQ are not under their control. They hooted at me when I tried to ask some questions from the DG ISI,” he said.
Nisar categorically said that they would not allow any undemocratic power to play havoc with the democratic system. On the issue of gas shortage, he said the House should hold a meaningful debate to find a solution to the problem.
Coming down hard on the petroleum minister, Nisar said Dr Asim Hussain could be a good physician but he should admit that he has failed as the minister for petroleum. He regretted that a personal physician and personal servant of a personality was elevated to the post of petroleum minister.
He said if, as the minister says, the CNG stations were consuming a huge quantity of gas, why did the government issue hundreds of NoCs for establishment of CNG stations in the last four years? “There was no gas loadshedding when the government came to power,” he said. He said the government had laid pipelines spread over thousands of miles on political basis but now there was no gas for the people.
