Islamabad:
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will appear before the country's Supreme Court to answer a contempt of court notice later this week amidst questions over whether the country's civilian government can survive. But emboldened by winning a trust vote in Parliament yesterday, its top leadership is now asserting that there is no question of the PM resigning or the government being sacked.
Speaking to NDTV in Islamabad, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he was confident that the government "will complete its full term." "There is no question of the Prime Minister resigning," he said. Ruling out the possibility of a coup, he added, "The stand-off between the military and the civilian government was part of a transitional phase for Pakistan's democracy."
On Monday evening, an embattled Zardari government won a trust vote in Parliament, with its pro-democracy resolution being passed by a majority. "Parliament is supreme, responsible and sovereign. I salute the political leadership that has passed this historic resolution," an animated PM said reacting to the victory that was not unexpected as the ruling coalition is in a position of strength in parliament. Outside, less so. (
Read: 10 things you should know about the Pak crisis)
After winning the trust vote, Mr Gilani also said in Parliament that a signal had been sent to the world that this "Parliament is not a rubber stamp." He challenged "anyone who doesn't like us" to bring a no-confidence vote against his government.
"Pakistan Parliament is not a rubber stamp and we must tell the world that Parliament is supreme. The resolution has been passed today by absolute majority. How can this House be termed a rubber stamp? I sent the message to the world that here is a responsible parliament and parliament is supreme and sovereign," Mr Gilani said.
(Watch)Mr Gilani was served a contempt notice on Monday morning for failing to re-open cases of corruption against President Zardari and others. Ahead of the vote, his office declared that he has agreed to personally appear in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
The support which endorsed that Parliament is supreme over every other institution including the executive and the judiciary will allow the Prime Minister the moral advantage when he appears in court on Thursday.
Hours before the vote, Mr Gilani met President Zardari, and his coalition partners in government. Mr Gilani put the onus of his quitting on the Parliament, a gambit which observers say, effectively means he is willing to fight it out rather than be a fall guy. "I am answerable to Parliament. And if somebody has any complaint, I will not answer any individual. I am answerable to Parliament and whenever Parliament asks, I will put my views before it," Mr Gilani said.
Through recent days of combat with the military and the judiciary, Mr Gilani has repeatedly stressed on the supremacy of Parliament. He pitched the vote in Parliament on Monday as a choice between democracy vs dictatorship and asked Parliament to endorse the supremacy of Parliament over every other institution, including the executive and, importantly, the judiciary.
The threat to Pakistan's government's survival lies in two matters that are before the Supreme Court - one accuses the government of using a secret memo to ask the US for help against a military takeover; the other holds Mr Gilani responsible for failing to re-open cases of corruption against the President. The government's legal battles intersect with unprecedented hostility with the army.
On Monday morning, the Supreme Court asked Mr Gilani to make an appearance in court while issuing a contempt of court notice for failing to implement the court's orders. Mr Gilani was last week described by the Supreme Court as a dishonest man. In 2009, the Supreme Court nullified the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which granted amnesty to Mr Zardari and other politicians and bureaucrats who had been accused of corruption. The court said the cases of graft should be investigated, and it's upset that no action has been taken so far to comply with that order. The contempt notice on Monday was issued after the Attorney General said he had no directions from the government to explain its stand to the Supreme Court.
These developments are over-shadowing the hostility between the army and the Prime Minister which escalated sharply last week; concerns of a military takeover have been replaced with talk of a "judicial or constitutional coup" along with reports that eventually, Mr Gilani's resignation may pave the way for a truce between the different stakeholders.
Opposition leaders like Imran Khan have said they are firmly against the Zardari government, but also firmly against allowing a military coup. Mr Khan, whose rallies have been drawing huge audiences, said on Monday that his Tehreek-e-Insaaf party supports the Supreme Court; he accused Mr Gilani of trying to protect a corrupt President Zardari.
Parties like Mr Khan's would like early elections, which now seem a distinct possibility.
The government's other big battle in court is over a secret memo that surfaced late last year and asked for US help against a military takeover. The memo was delivered in the weeks after the US located and killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, angering and embarrassing the Pakistani army. That memo was written allegedly by then ambassador Husain Haqqani, and was delivered by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz. Mr Haqqani denies that he authored the memo, or that it was developed and delivered on the instructions of the President.
An incensed army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha have asked for a Supreme Court investigation, which has begun. Mr Ijaz who was to testify on Monday has delayed his trip back to Pakistan, claiming threats. Mr Haqqani has taken refuge in the Prime Minister's residence.
Last week, in a series of retaliatory moves, the government and the army tried to prove their strength. First, Mr Gilani criticized the army and ISI chiefs for explaining their stand on the memo directly to the Supreme Court, rather than through the government. The army did not take the critique lightly. In a statement, it warned of serious consequences to the Prime Minister's comments. So hours later, Mr Gilani fired the Defence Secretary, who was seen to be close to General Kayani.