Remarks: Nisar asks Gilani to retract his statement against army

Leader of opposition in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday asked Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to retract his statement questioning defence institutions for presence of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the country prior to his killing in US unilateral action in Abbottabad on May 02.
Speaking at a news conference, he warned the government against taking any 'step' against Army Chief and DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) before Supreme Court verdict on memogate scandal. When asked to elaborate whether Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would resist any move of the government to sack Army Chief and DG ISI, he said: "Yes it is nearer to that...as the memogate is currently in the apex court, if government takes any action in desperation, not only the opposition but the entire nation will strongly stand up against it." He, however, said his apprehension on the ISI political wing will still remain there.
He asked the Prime Minister to immediately reach out to the country's defence forces so that the current standoff could come to an end. "Let the army do its job as they are doing wonderful at our borders," he said. He was of the view that General Kayani has kept himself away from the politics so the Prime Minister's retraction of his earlier statement was very necessary.
Nisar strongly criticised Gilani's statement in National Assembly on Thursday for questioning OBL presence in the country, terming his remarks as extremely 'irresponsible' by a person of his stature. He also advised Prime Minister Gilani that instead of indirectly implementing the points that had been written in the 'memo' should retract the statement and avoid pointing fingers at the defence institutions. The Prime Minister had repeatedly stated that all institutions including army and ISI were under his control but his remarks, he added, declaring the military a 'state within the state' were ironical.
By giving such statement, Nisar said, the Prime Minister had tried to divert attention from his government's 'incompetence and malpractice'. He was of the view that the statement was tantamount to a 'charge-sheet' that foreign media and their governments were presenting time and again to malign Pakistan.
"If opposition or the public raise such questions, it could be justified, but the Prime Minister taking such swipes for political mileage is shocking," he regretted. What he did for the country by questioning the defence institutions about OBL presence here, he asked, adding that one thing is for sure that the nation will never let anybody to implement whatever is written in 'memogate'.
"Controlling the country's armed forces and our nuclear assets is too far...this is absurd, we don't even let any foreign power to look towards them", he warned. He stated that it was ironical that the content of the prime minister's speech was similar to the points raised in the memo. The Prime Minister himself, he added, is weakening his case, besides ridiculing the country and its institutions.
Nisar said that he did not see any threat to democracy. However, it was really disappointing to see that our civilian government is that weak that it had to rely on Army Chief to tell the people there is no threat to democracy, he added. "I being a parliamentarian, feel ashamed that the Army Chief had to make a statement to dispel the impression of any military coupe created by the government itself," he added.
He was of the view that the present mess was created by 'misdeeds' of the rulers themselves. "I am dead sure there is no threat to democracy from anywhere, if there is any...it would be just because of rulers' misdeeds," he added. He also came down hard on the government for using the presidency as a sub office of the party, and alleged that it is not only being used by party co-chairman but his entire family members were using Awan-e-Sadr for personal meetings.
Nisar said that the government has started confrontation with every institution including judiciary, army and the media. The government is now harping on the 'threat to government' for political mileage, he added. To a question regarding PML-N senior leader Javed Hashmi, who joined PTI, he said that it was sad development, as Hashmi remained associated with the party for so long. However, he said there could be difference of opinion between family members but expressed disappointment over Hashmi's sudden decision.