Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said he does not need a vote of confidence from the parliament.
"Whoever wants to initiate a no-confidence motion in the parliament, they are free to do so," Mr Gilani said referring to the media reports that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) might bring a no-trust motion against him. "Let's decide first if there will be democracy or there will be dictatorship in the country. The mistakes of the politicians should not punish the democracy."
Addressing the session of the National Assembly, Mr Gilani said everyone should respect the constitution and those who want to shorten the terms of the Prime Minister and the President should propose amendments.
He further said that the government was not against any state institution. "We have not come here to seek martyrdom, nor are we seeking support on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). The opposition should tell us if it was made by our government."
The Prime Minister urged the parliamentarians to join hands for strengthening democratic institutions and the parliament. He vowed that the resolution is just to support the democratic process and for continuity of parliamentary system in the country.
"You should protect yourself, you should protect the Parliament", said the Prime Minister directly giving the message to the members of the Parliament.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan strongly objected summoning of the session without taking the opposition parties into confidence. He said there is no threat to the parliament and the democracy, and "we should avoid the course of confrontation among the institutions".