We don’t have to get rid of Musharraf, says Gillani

The Pervez Musharraf's ouster is not the main issue for his government, says Pak PM Yousuf Raja Gillani.

With PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif insisting President Pervez Musharraf’s ouster, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raja Gillani has said the issue can not be dealt with by “desires” of the former premier and that it was not the main issue for his government.

“If Nawaz feels (Musharraf) should not be here, then the constitution has to be followed. That can’t be dealt with by desires. It (impeachment) can only be worked out if (Sharif) has the (two-thirds) majority in both houses (of parliament),” Gillani said.

Ouster of Musharraf was not the main issue for him, said Gillani.

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“Musharraf is not the issue. The main issues are terrorism and extremism, fundamentalism, food and electricity shortages and the economy, which is totally in a mess,” he told the Newsweek.

Replying to another query on whether he will be able to work with Musharraf, as the President had put him in jail for five years, he said, “my having been in jail has nothing to do with my position today.”

“The Pakistan People’s Party believes in peace and reconciliation. We don’t want to fight for non issues,” he added.

“I’m here because of the party, and I’ll be here as long as the party wishes me to be,” he replied on asking, how long he expects to remain in office in view of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s recent comment that he would become premier if the need arose.

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Asked whether the parliament will pass legislation that will further curtail the president’s powers, such as his power to dismiss the government, he said, “we need to protect the constitution, and we have the votes (to amend it)”.

“The people voted for our manifesto that was to restore the original 1973 constitution. We don’t have to get rid of Musharraf. We have to get rid of his amendments,” he said.

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