Gilani expresses fear of Pak’s democratic government being ousted

Islamabad: As talk of a rift between his government and the military gathers pace, Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today said “no institution can be a state within a state” and warned that “conspiracies” are being hatched to “pack up” his democratically-elected government.

People will have to decide whether they want “elected people or a dictatorship”, he added. “I want to make it clear today that there are intrigues and conspiracies going on and the conspiracy is to pack up the elected government,” Prime Minister Gilani said while addressing a function organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

“I want to tell them that whether we are in government or opposition or among the people, we will fight for the rights of the people of Pakistan,” he said without giving details of who was behind the conspiracies against his government.

In a veiled reference to the army, Pakistan's PM said today that "no institution can be a state within a state".

The premier made a veiled reference to the differences between his government and the army, saying “no institution can be a state within a state”. He added: “Nobody can say they are not under the government. Every
institution of this country, including the Ministry of Defence, is under the Prime Minister. There should be no ambiguity that anybody can claim that I am independent…If any individual thinks they are not under the government, they are mistaken.”

“They are under the government and will remain under the government because we are the elected, chosen representatives of the people of Pakistan.” Gilani said.

The Prime Minister’s unusual remarks came in the backdrop of tensions between the civilian government and the powerful military over the memogate scandal.