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'Roznama Jang': Pakistani PM May Be Removed
According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani may be removed over the failure to thwart the recent opposition-backed lawyers’ march that forced the government to re-instate deposed judges.
According to the report, "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is emerging as a victim of President [Asif] Zardari’s anger and revenge." President Zardari’s stature has been reduced in the eyes of Pakistani people after he was forced to re-instate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges recently.
The ruling Pakistan People’s Party is in talks with Pakistan Muslim League (Q), a party that supported former President Pervez Musharraf, to form a coalition government in Punjab province. The province is under federal rule after the Supreme Court disqualified Punjab’s Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his brother Nawaz Sharif from holding public office.
According to Roznama Jang, the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, have assured President Zardari of their support in Punjab and at the federal level. Punjab is considered politically the most influential state in Pakistan.
The report added that President Zardari is unhappy over reports in which opposition leaders Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif have expressed respect for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and therefore some changes in Islamabad may be in offing.
Source: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, March 19, 2009
Posted at: 2009-03-19
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