SWABI, Dec 29: Central president of the PML-Z, Ijazul Haq, has said Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali will get four more votes on Monday to his tally of 170 votes that he bagged in the election of premier.

He was speaking to newsmen here on Sunday.

Ijaz said that after the restoration of democracy with a three-year gap, politicians should display sagacity and should work to strengthen democracy in the country.

He said that pulling each others’ legs and indulging in allegations and counter-allegations might pose a threat to the democracy, and added that the present period was of a give-and-take. Instead of sticking to their guns, the politicians should use their diplomatic skills to put the democracy on a real path, he said.

Ijaz admitted that the Jamali government was weak because it lacked the support of majority MNAs, and the strong opposition could play havoc with the government agenda. He urged the government to take the opposition into confidence on various issues, as, he said, it was vital for the smooth running of the government.

“The Jamali’s government is under pressure from its allies and various splinter groups. For example, of the 10 PPP dissidents six got key ministries while the other groups also have various demands. In view of different priorities and approaches of the PML-Q allies, the government is in hot waters,” he claimed.

About the controversial Legal Framework Order (LFO), he said that some clauses in Article 58(2)(b) were acceptable to the PML-Z while the remaining should be axed. But he also said there was a dire need that the LFO should be brought to parliament for debate and after its passage, the order should be made a part of the Constitution.

“I am in favour of the National Security Council (NSC), but it should be an advisory body instead of an executive entity. In the present form, it negates and harms the spirit of democracy. The NSC should not be a dominant authority,” he opined.

He also urged the politicians and army for establishing good working relations between themselves and said these efforts would help create a viable environment for the democracy.

Replying to a question, he said unity of all the Muslim League factions was a need of the hour as owing to internal conflicts of the party other parties, especially the PPP, had got an opportunity to win more seats.

“Despite that the establishment wanted to capture more seats for the PML-Q, it could not win the required seats and faced various difficulties in the formation of the government,” he said.

Replying to another question, he said that being a front line state and an ally in the war against terror, the US policy makers should reconsider their decision on the inclusion of Pakistanis in the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. Otherwise, he said, the rulers would face harsh realities in satisfying the masses on the issue of alliance with Washington.