Gilani talks of 'parallel governments': impression created by pro-active media, aggressive accountability & judicial activism

In my opinion, corruption has reduced during the last three years primarily due to a pro-active media, aggressive accountability by the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and judicial activism, stated Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday.
In an inter-active session with local media, the Prime Minister said the way the three above mentioned factors played out and pursued matters, they created a strong impression of existence of some parallel governments. He recalled that former President Ayub Khan passed an Election Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO) against politicians, who had played a role in the Independence Movement, on the pretext of corruption. Prime Minister Bhutto was removed on similar grounds. Both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were twice removed on corruption charges. He queried whether corruption did come down during General Musharraf's era.
Flanked by Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Prime Minister Gilani said he had called in the Karachi media on a short notice as he had to cancel his other engagements due to strike in Karachi. He refused to get involved in the controversy whether a ruling political parties should call for economic shutdown. He said it is up to the CM Sindh to rein in his Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza from making controversial statements and taking aggressive posture.
PM Gilani explained in detail about the appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau. He aid the law requires the President to consult both the Leader of the House and the Leader of Opposition in this regard. He said President Zardari asked him to talk with Chaudhry Nisar about his first choice of Justice Junejo. He did so. But Nisar in writing rejected the name on grounds that as Chief Election Commissioner Junejo had rejected the papers of PML-nominee Rafiq Tarar.
He subsequently informed the President. The second name suggested by the President was that of former Justice Deedar Hussain Shah. It was strongly felt that on transfer of his case from the Bench headed by Justice Shah; Nawaz Sharif had objected and publicly praised him. But again Nisar rejected the name and the President felt that all names suggested by him were going to meet the same fate and the President therefore went ahead with the appointment of Justice Shah.
PM Gilani was clear that there was no confrontation between the Executive and the Judiciary. "All that is happening is that the Executive is asking the Judiciary to clarify the domains of the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary. Asking the Supreme Court to fix the responsibility and extent of powers of each pillar does not amount to a clash of institutions. Interpretation of 18th and 19th Amendment will after all be done by the court, he added.
He showed dogged determination and dour resolution to stand as a rock against any attempts, real or perceived, at derailing or rolling-back democracy in the country. He defended the performance of the government by saying it needs to be judged (a) on implementation of the manifesto of the PPP; and (b) that 21 of the 36 points signed on the Charter of Democracy have been fulfilled so far.
PM Gilani said that Pakistan was committed to the world on war against terrorism and to undertake economic reforms. Difficult decisions like building new dams and gas pipelines have been achieved with a consensus in the Council of Common Interest. "Personally, I am in favour of creating more provinces if the people of the area so desire. But this needs to be done as provided for in the constitution," said Gilani.
He agreed that there were deep opposing feelings in the public - both in Pakistan and US - on the Raymond Davis spate. But he was confident that "one issue" would never damage the deep-rooted relationship between the two countries. In the same way, he said he also told Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh that acts of terror should not hold back the process of normalisation of relations between the neighbours.