---- Prime Minister House, British HC reject report
---- Prime Minister appeals for support in stand-off, says won't seek fresh confidence vote
---- ANP's Asfandyar tables 'pro-democracy' resolution
Prime Minister Yousuf Reza Gilani asked High Commissioner Adam Thomson for Britain to support his embattled government, according to the officials, who didn't give their names because of the sensitivity of the issue. It's unclear if the British government took any action. Such is the weakness of state institutions, Pakistani leaders have often looked to foreign powers, especially the United States and Gulf countries, to intervene in domestic affairs, mediate disputes between feuding power centers or "guarantee" agreements between them.
The army, which has staged four coups in Pakistan's history and is believed to consider itself the only true custodian of the country's interests, has never liked the civilian government headed by Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari.
APP adds: The spokesman for the Prime Minister House has strongly denied a news report circulated by Associated Press saying that the Prime Minister spoke to the British High Commissioner last week seeking the British help to pre-empt coup.
The spokesman said the Prime Minister had not spoken to the British High Commissioner in this regard and the AP story was totally unfounded. According to the spokesman, the democratic government led by Prime Minister derives its strength from the people of Pakistan and not from any foreign power.
Meanwhile, British High Commission on Friday evening also rejected the news item about any telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and UK High Commissioner Adam Thomson. In a statement issued by the spokesperson of British High Commission said, "The story about a recent phone call between UK High Commissioner Adam Thomson and Prime Minister Gilani is untrue." The British High Commission further stated that "there has been no such call."
ZAHEER ABBASI from ISLAMABAD adds: The government on Friday moved a resolution in the National Assembly in support of democracy and sovereignty of Parliament. However, its passage was delayed for a debate and discussion till Monday on the request of opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
The draft resolution moved by the chief of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan, whose party is a partner in the ruling coalition, stated that "this House believes that the present democratic dispensation, which is about to complete four years, came into being as a result of great sacrifices made by the people of Pakistan.
"The House reiterates the belief of the democratic forces that the future of Pakistan and well being of its people lie in the Continuation and strengthening of democratic institutions and constitutionalism for the resolution of national issues, strengthening of the federation and empowering the people of Pakistan.
"This House believes that for the furtherance of democracy and democratic institutions, the basic constitutional principle of trichotomy of powers must be fully respected and adhered to and all state institutions must strictly function within the limits imposed on them by the Constitution.
"The House reiterates that sovereignty lies with the people of Pakistan and the parliament is the repository of the collective wisdom of the people. This House endorses and supports the efforts, made by the political leadership for strengthening democracy and reposes full confidence and trust in them".
Responding to the criticism of the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that resolution moved in support of the democratic setup was not against judiciary or any other institution. "All we want from the opposition to decide whether there should be democracy or dictatorship in the country," Gilani said and added that opposition leader was, perhaps, mistaken that the government moved a resolution in support of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) or against Army. We neither come to the Parliament to look for support on NRO nor did we want help from opposition for saving government from Army." Gilani also dispelled the impression of any confrontation with the judiciary, saying that the government does not want any confrontation among institutions.
Gilani said the government would prefer to go to people over seeking help from the opposition in case of a serious trouble and a special session has been convened to take into confidence the Parliament on the issue that has triggered a debate at home and abroad about what possibly will happen in Pakistan. The Prime Minister also requested the members to strengthen the Parliament and democracy.
Gilani also invited the opposition to bring amendment in the Constitution to reduce the tenure of the Prime Minister and the Parliament if the opposition and people consider the present five-year term of the government intolerable or in appropriate. The Prime Minister also made it clear that only the Parliament and no one else could reduce the term of government.
Gilani said the present government has for the first time in the history of the country made Chief of Army Staff and Director General ISI accountable before the Parliament. It wants the process of democracy to continue and must not suffer owing to government mistakes. Gilani also said that the government does not intend to become "martyr" nor does he need to take vote of confidence from the Parliament because he's a unanimously elected Prime Minister and enjoying the support of majority of Parliamentarians. The Prime Minister also said that after taking oath release of "house-arrested" judiciary and that he also restored them through an executive order.
Responding to the criticism of the opposition leaders about the justification of convening the emergency session, Gilani said that in times of problems everyone seeks support of his community and even crows get united. Here he referred to a late night meeting of Supreme Court bench following a news that the government was considering withdrawing executive order issued for the restoration of the deposed judiciary. Gilani said if a full court could assemble on a totally absurd and incorrect piece of information then why an emergency session of the Parliament could not be convened to discuss a grave situation.