Gilani puts up stout defence of democracy, wins trust vote

Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday night approved a key resolution seeking endorsement for democracy in Pakistan. Amounting to a trust vote, this is a major relief for beleaguered Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The Prime Minister is facing a coup threat and pressure from the Supreme Court of the country on issues of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and the Memogate scam. [caption id=“attachment_184193” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Prime Minister is facing a coup threat and pressure from the Supreme Court of the country on issues of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and the Memogate scam. AP Photo”] [/caption] The resolution in the National Assembly was put forward Friday by the Awami National Party, part of the governing coalition led by Gilani’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). It sought support for “efforts made by the political leadership for strengthening democracy” and calls for reposing “full confidence and trust” in the leadership. Earlier, unconfirmed media sources said, Gilani offered to resign, after being served a contempt notice by the apex Court. He has decided to appear before the Supreme Court personally on Thursday in response to the contempt notice issued by the court this morning. If the court orders his arrest or asks him to quit, the party has kept three names – PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi of the PML-Q – under consideration, according to CNN-IBN. Gilani, who made a stirring speech in defence of democracy, had earlier told a meeting of top leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party and its partners in the ruling coalition that he was ready to quit if the step strengthened the government and parliament, CNN-IBN quoting ARY news channel said.