Islamabad: Pakistani parliament has passed with majority a resolution to back the country’s political leadership and reposed trust in them.
Lawmakers of the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) walked out of proceedings of the National Assembly. Another small opposition group Pakistan People’s Party (PPP-Sherpa group) also walked of the house proceedings.
The resolution was adopted hours after the country’s Supreme Court issued a contempt of court notice to the beleaguered Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilan on failing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Zardari.
“This House endorses and supports the efforts made by the political leadership for the strengthening democracy and reposes full confidence and trust in them,†the resolution said.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani congratulated the lawmakers on the adoption of the resolution and announced in the parliament that he would appear in the Supreme Court on January 19.
Gilani in his speech to the house after the passage of the resolution thanked the lawmakers for supporting the resolution and said his government and partners in the ruling coalition would protect the constitution.
He criticized the opposition for walking out of the National Assembly and said if the opposition does not like him it can bring a no-confidence motion against him. He said he does not need to take the trust vote from the parliament as the house had elected him with majority four years ago.
“Today is the best day in democracy. The history will remember this day,†the Prime Minister said amid thumping of desks by the lawmakers.
The resolution said that the present democratic dispensation, which is about to complete four years, came into being as a result of great sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan.
“This House reiterates the belief of the democratic forces that the future of Pakistan and well being of its people lies in the constitutionalism for the resolution of national issues, strengthening of the federation and empowering the people of Pakistan,†the resolution said.
“This House believes that for the furtherance of democracy and democratic institutions the basic constitutional principle of trichotomy of powers must be fully respected and adhered to and all state institutions must strictly function within the limits imposed on them by the constitutionâ€.
The resolution reiterated that sovereignty lies with the people of Pakistan and the parliament is the repository of the collective wisdom of the people. (KMW News)
