Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said conspirators were plotting to bring down his four-year-old government. “I want to make it clear today that conspiracies are being hatched here to pack up the elected government,” Mr Gilani told a gathering at the National Arts Gallery. “But we will continue to fight for the rights of the people of Pakistan whether or not we remain in government,” Mr Gilani added.
He said the Army is working under the government and will only perform its professional duties. The Pakistan Army has ruled the country for more than half its age as an independent nation since 1947. The last spell of military rule ended in 2008 when Gen. Pervez Musharraf quit power amid threats of impeachment.
PM Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari have fended off a series of scandals and calls for the government to resign since they took office after the Pakistan People’s Party won the elections in February 2008. “They are a disciplined Army and follow the Constitution. They are under the government and will remain under the government,” Mr Gilani said about the Army. He said Pakistan wanted new rules of engagement with the US with a guarantee that the US would respect Pakistan’s sovereignty and an assurance that there would be “no Abbottabad-like unilateral action in future”.
He added that in case any credible and actionable information was available, it must be shared with Pakistan for necessary action.