Gilani says govt has 'good relations' with 'perceived nemesis' Army and judiciary

Islamabad, Sep 29 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has stated that the government has good relations with the establishment and the army, adding that the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were also in favour of democracy in the country, a private TV channel reported.

Speaking with a panel of journalists at the Prime Minister's House, Gilani reiterated that the PPP-led government would complete its tenure, adding that those who wished the government to dissolve before its time would be disappointed, the Daily Times reported.

Emphasising that the government had no confrontation with the judiciary, he stated that the extension give by the apex court for writing a letter to the Swiss government against President Asif Ali Zardari was not the outcome of any deal.

He pointed out that reinstating Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the tenure of former president Pervez Musharraf was a great risk, but "I delivered the pledge made with the nation."

Musharraf wanted to dissolve the current assemblies, but he could not succeed as he failed to muster support from any quarter, Gilani claimed, adding that the PPP's parliamentary committee and its coalition partners had decided for Musharraf's impeachment.

Talking about the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) case, he said he had not received the final list of the beneficiaries, adding that all state departments were working within their constitutional limits, and out of the 32 articles of the Charter of Democracy (CoD), 27 articles had already been implemented.

Talking about the economic mismanagement by the government, Gilani said, "We are taking difficult decisions for improvement in the economy of the country."

Holding that criticism was the right of the opposition, he said, "We are facing it with a broad mind," adding that the size of cabinet was also going to be reduced.

He rejected the notion that drone attacks were being conducted with the consent of the government, adding that the government always opposed these attacks and had adopted the stance that they were leaving a negative impact in the country.

"We have raised this issue with the United States on several occasions," he maintained. (ANI)