Islamabad: An increasingly confident Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appears set to enhance his control over the Pakistan government, having cancelled the appointment of an ambassador nominated by President Asif Ali Zaradari and planning to remove three ministers considered close to him.
When Gilani was named premier by the ruling Pakistan People's Party after its victory in last year's general election, many assumed he would simply be a "yes man" to Zardari, who is also the PPP chief. But in recent months, he has shown his ability to take on the President on crucial issues, sources in the party told PTI.
Gilani, who has earned praise from his countrymen for bringing up India's alleged "interference" in Balochistan during his recent meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, has also made it clear that he does not share Zardari's view that India does not pose a threat to Pakistan.
Over the weekend, Gilani cancelled the appointment of Jahanzeb Khan -- a member of the lowly District Management Group from which deputy commissioners are chosen -- as the envoy to France. It has been widely reported that Khan, known for his links with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's brother Guillaume, was chosen for the post by Zardari.
Though Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi intervened after career diplomats expressed their opposition to the move, he was unable to sway Zardari.
As part of an upcoming reshuffle of the cabinet, Gilani is determined to remove "at least three important buddies of President Zardari" from key
ministries, The News daily reported today.
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"Enough is enough. I have assessed the performance of my ministers during the last one year. Now I have to make some changes according to merit, not according to somebody's liking and disliking because I am responsible for running a country of more than 170 million people," Gilani told the newspaper.
Gilani has also made it clear that he does not intend to toe the President's line in other areas, including relations with India. Asked at a news conference on Saturday about Zardari's assertion that India did not pose a threat to Pakistan, Gilani did not mince words.
Noting that the two countries had not had "good relations for the past 60 years", he said: "Therefore we have to be a little careful and that is the reason there is a lack of trust. When there would be trust-building, then we can say such things that we are not threatened. But at the moment, it's too early," he added.
The Pakistani media has made much of Gilani's decision to bring up the issue of alleged "Indian interference" in the restive Balochistan province during his July 16 meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Gilani, The News said, is "now in an aggressive mood" and
"very confident after emerging victorious from Sharm-el-Sheikh".
The Prime Minister's stance "against the President's interference in day-to-day affairs of government could surprise Zardari in the coming days," the report said.
Gilani, who is perceived to be closer to the military establishment than Zardari, is also upset with several key aides of the President, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Advisor on Finance.
Sources said Gilani felt the President's aides often announced decisions without consulting the cabinet.
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He has said that Malik's recent announcement about authorities clamping down on "anti-government" emails and SMS messages will not be implemented. He also said that nobody will be allowed to make such announcements in future without consulting the cabinet.
Media reports quoted sources close to Gilani as saying that he has the support of 90 parliamentarians of the PPP, 91 from the opposition PML-N, 54 of PML-Q, 16 independents and 13 of the Awami National Party. The President is backed by 24 lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, six from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and 35 others, including some PPP ministers.
The sources said Zardari is thus not in a position to remove Gilani because the premier enjoys a simple majority in the National Assembly or lower house of parliament.
Observers said Zardari is unlikely to use his sweeping powers as President to dissolve the National Assembly as such a move would have to be referred to the Supreme Court within 15 days.
The independent judiciary headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is unlikely to accept such a move.
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