Conspiracies hatched to derail democracy: Gilani

ISLAMABAD — Condemning acts of violence in Karachi and rowdyism against Arbab Rahim and Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday said these are part of conspiracies to derail the democratic process.
Gilani read out a statement in the first regular session of the newly-elected National Assembly after leader of the opposition Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi accused the coalition government, in particular the PPP and the PML-N, of targeting the opposition leaders to intimidate them with acts of vandalism and humiliation. He later led the opposition comprising the PML-Q, MQM and other groups to a protest walk out and boycott of the rest of the proceedings.
Gilani said episodes involving Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Dr Sher Afgan and subsequent bloody violence in Karachi could not be condoned by any civilised society, especially so in Pakistani society which has given a clear mandate in favour of the democratic process based on democratic norms, tolerance and reconciliation.
“We must take notice of these conspiracies, unjustified behaviour and mischievous acts,” Gilani said, adding that these acts were being fuelled by those who did not want democracy to flourish and want to derail the democratic process which this government was aspiring for, to bring about consensus, tolerance and national cohesion.
“But we will not allow these anti-democratic forces to succeed in their unholy attempts,” he said.
Gilani said it is imperative to clearly establish the motives and expose the faces of those behind these incidents. “We have, therefore, decided to inquire and thoroughly investigate all aspects of these events and bring the culprits to justice,” he added.
Gilani urged people to exercise tolerance, practice accommodation, and adhere to the law. “If we do not do that we may again be subjected to the dark years of tyranny and dictatorship from which we have just started to come out,” he said.
Outside the Parliament House, Pervaiz Elahi, Arbab Rahim, MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar and Dr Sher Afgan Niazi spoke to reporters and accused the government of promoting anarchy and violence. Afgan blamed PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, lawyers and Jamaat-e-Islami activists for roughing him up on Tuesday.Farooq Sattar said supporters of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges attacked a peaceful protest rally by MQM lawyers in Karachi against manhandling of Dr Sher Afgan and Arbab Rahim.