Political chaos in Pakistan:

Gilani hopes to avoid collapse

PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani won tentative support at crisis talks with political opponents Monday, raising hopes that his Government can stave off imminent collapse.

The political turmoil was sparked on Sunday when coalition partner the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) quit the government to join the opposition.

The move severed the government’s majority at a time of economic meltdown that has raised IMF concerns, and risked diverting Pakistani efforts, under US pressure, to do more to fight Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

No entirely civilian government in Pakistan has managed to complete a full term in office and with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leading a majority of 160 seats in the 342-member national assembly, horse trading began immediately.

Although he is not bound to seek a vote of confidence in parliament, Gilani could face serious problems in passing legislation and any failure to get the budget adopted in June could force snap elections.

Pakistan has managed to stave off bankruptcy thanks to a 2008 IMF rescue package, but after catastrophic flooding last summer there are fears that Islamabad cannot meet key targets on inflation and budget deficit levels.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that won elections in February 2008, expressed full confidence in Gilani and “firm hope” that he will complete his five-year term in office.

“The prime minister is not alone, he will not be left alone. The party stands behind him through thick and thin,” spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Gilani spent Monday locked in talks with the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), whose 50 lawmakers could prop up the government, and the brother of opposition leader Nawaz Sharif who left the coalition in 2008. “It was agreed that parliament and democracy will be strengthened and no step will be taken which could derail democracy,” an upbeat Gilani said.

PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said he would consult his party, but indicated that it could come to the prime minister’s rescue.

“We will support them on one condition — that they will solve the problems being faced by the people of Pakistan.

“We do not want to blackmail them. We talked about all issues namely the reformed general sales tax bill, inflation, unemployment and the anti-blasphemy law,” he told reporters after the meeting in Lahore.

The MQM said its 25 lawmakers moved into the opposition in protest at the government’s nine percent increase in petrol prices, inflation and record on corruption, but also left the door open to supporting it in the future. Islamabad, Tuesday, AFP