Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, made a strong pitch for democracy in a country plagued by military coups when he defiantly urged MPs of all parties to support him, saying they had to choose between democracy and dictatorship as a growing confrontation with the Army pointed to his possible ouster.
Gilani said that democracy must survive, regardless of whether or not leaders withstood legal challenges to their rule, over corruption claims and the 'Memogate' scandal that has consumed his nation of 174 million people.
“Now we have to decide whether we should have democracy or dictatorship in this country. If we have committed any mistakes, it does not mean that democracy or Parliament should be punished,” Mr Gilani said.
Significantly, a small partner in Gilani’s fragile ruling coalition, the Awami National Party, lodged a resolution to be debated on Monday, backing a strong separation of powers of the government, military and judiciary.
Gilani has called on Saturday the meeting of a defence committee of the cabinet which comprises ministers and military chiefs to help defuse tension between the civilian and military leadership.