Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, declaring he did not need to take a vote of confidence from Parliament, urged MPs of all parties to support him, saying they had to choose betw-een democracy and dictatorship amid a confrontation with the Army that could lead to his ouster.
Mr 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. “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.
President Asif Ali Zardari, who had flown to Dubai on Thursday on a private visit, returned to Pakistan on Friday, and his spokesman said he was “not worried” over the political crisis in Islamabad.