Its good to see the new Prime Minister taking initiatives to disengage the armed forces from politics. Only if he can now get one last retired general who is holding on to the presidency illegally out of presidency somehow…
Gilani to army: Back to barracks in two weeks
30 Mar 2008, 0000 hrs IST,AGENCIES
Print Save EMail Write to Editor
ISLAMABAD: The army should return to the barracks in two weeks, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday, sending a strong message to the military to stay out of politics as ruling was “the right of the people”.
“Ruling is the right of people which they give to their elected representatives … I urge upon the armed forces to call back all army officers from civilian organisations within two weeks,” Gilani said after getting an unopposed vote of confidence from the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament. (Watch: Pak National Assembly backs Gilani)
The Prime Minister was outlining his government’s agenda after the vote of confidence. In his speech, Gilani also noted the various political, social and economic problems faced by the country and their possible solutions.
Gilani also called upon the pro-Taliban militants in the country’s tribal areas to lay down arms and hold talks with the government.
He also vowed to restore about 60 senior judges deposed by President Pervez Musharraf, a move that could further cloud the political future of the embattled leader. “Unfortunately some people used terrorism as a way of expression (against dictatorship). But now there is a democratic government in the country and we request these people to give up terrorism,” he said.
Before his speech, Gilani asked parliament for a vote of confidence as required by the constitution for a new prime minister, but with no one objecting to his appointment - including all the opposition parties - a unanimous vote of confidence was declared.
“We are ready to hold talks with all those people who will lay down their arms,” he said.
Underlining the transformation of Pakistan’s political landscape, lawmakers on Saturday gave a unanimous vote of confidence to Gilani.
In a gesture to Western nations concerned that Musharraf’s decline could result in an easing of Pakistan’s efforts to counter Al-Qaida and Taliban militants entrenched along the Afghan border, he said that “fighting terrorism” was his government’s “top priority”.
“The war against terrorism is our own war,” Gilani told lawmakers, who repeatedly thumped their desks in approval as the new PM outlined his priorities.