Pakistan's Parliament should decide the fate of former President Pervez Musharraf following the Supreme Court's verdict that the emergency imposed by him in 2007 was unconstitutional and illegal,Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said. "They (Supreme Court) have given their verdict.I have been saying from day one that Parliament is the forum which has to take these decisions. Let the Parliament decide (the fate of Musharraf)," he said. Gilani said he did not hold a personal opinion in the matter. "My party (the ruling PPP) will have an opinion and the party will never support a dictator," he said in an interview to a TV news channel when he was asked if Musharraf would be brought to trial. On Friday,the apex court declared the emergency imposed by Musharraf in November 2007 as unconstitutional and illegal. The ruling has made it possible for the former military ruler to be tried for treason for violating the Constitution. However,such a trial can only be initiated by the government. Gilani said he appreciated the apex court's decision declaring the emergency and Musharraf's subsequent actions as null and void. As Pakistan now has a free media,strong political forces and an active judiciary,people have more expectations though the government has to act with a balanced approach,Gilani said. "Parliament has to act very maturely," he added. A parliamentary committee has been constituted by the Speaker of the National Assembly to recommend Constitutional reforms,which will be placed before Parliament. Asked about the possibility of scrapping of 17th amendment of the Constitution which gives the President sweeping powers to dissolve Parliament and dismiss Premier,Gilani said the PPP and the main opposition PML-N do not have the required two-thirds majority in Parliament to undo the measure. "Other parities will have to be taken along for this purpose," he said. In reply to another question,Gilani said there were no differences between him and President Asif Ali Zardari. "This is just a perception limited to newspapers. We have a normal relationship and there is no misunderstanding," he said. Pressed further on this issue,he said: "When they (differences) do not exist,why are you trying to create them?" Gilani said he made all decisions after consulting Zardari. Reports have suggested that relations between Zardari and Gilani have been strained in the past few months. The Prime Minister,who is perceived to be closer to the military establishment than the President,is reportedly upset with the functioning of several of Zardari's close aides,including Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
