Pak SC, Army should protect democracy instead of derailing system: Gilani

Islamabad, Jan 17 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the Supreme Court and the Army should protect democracy, and not derail the system.

Speaking in the National Assembly after the passage of a resolution in support of democracy on Monday, Gilani said: "If there is no democracy then everybody will go together. Nobody will go in separate boxes."

"We do not want a certificate of patriotism from others," he added.

Gilani said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto had laid down their lives for democracy and it "goes to the credit of this parliament that it restored the Constitution of 1973".

He said the Supreme Court had called him, and he would appear before it on January 19 to show his utmost respect for the institution.

Concerning the pro-democracy resolution, he said the day was a defining moment in the history of Pakistan and the best day for democracy.

Insisting that the resolution was not against the judiciary or any other institution, he added: "We did not come to the assembly under threat and we are not against any institution. We did not come here to protect ourselves."

He congratulated the members of the National Assembly for passing the historic resolution with an absolute majority, saying the resolution would strengthen democracy and democratic institutions, and would show the sovereignty of parliament.

Trying to prove his innocence, Gilani insisted that the creator of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) is out of the country, while others inside are facing punishments. (ANI)