PM accuses ‘conspirators’ of undermining government

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that intrigues were being hatched to pack up the elected government, expressing his fear of its ouster.“But I want to tell” (such intriguers) “that whether we remain in government or opposition, we will continue to protect people’s rights,” he said while addressing a gathering held for the launch of an exhibition of rare photographs of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Pakistan Movement at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad. In an aggressive tone, Gilani said there cannot be a State within a state and nobody can say that he is not under the government.” “Every institution of the country including the defence ministry is under the Prime Minister,” he said adding that the institutions get paid from the national exchequer. There should be no ambiguity and nobody can claim that he is independent.”Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Gilani said, gave “us a free country and if we cannot uphold freedom and protect people’s rights, we did not have any right to rule.”The prime minister said he had respect for the armed forces for their role in the fight against terrorism and extremism.“But it was the government that gave the ownership to the war against terrorism and extremism and accept the responsibility of the military action with uniting all the political forces of the country,” he said and adding that no military could fight without the support of masses. “I am proud that I united the country for the military action against extremism.” The prime minister said Pakistan armed forces were disciplined but if any individual thinks that he is not under constitution, he is mistaken. “It did not matter whether I remain prime minister or not. I have served for the longest tenure as premier. Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto served as a prime minister 43 months and I had completed 45 months.”