LAHORE: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani says none else but the PML-N government will be responsible for its own premature ‘demise’.

“The PPP will follow the Constitution in case the government is sent packing in the wake of the long march,” he said while talking to Dawn here on Thursday.Mr Gilani said the government had mishandled the long march by placing containers on roads in Punjab and elsewhere, causing problems to the people. However, the good sense prevailed in the end.

He said the government was trying to give an impression that the army was with it by holding a national security conference and Aug 13 and 14 ceremonies.

“Similarly, it (the government) is trying to politicise the judiciary on the long march issue. Anticipating the court’s order, Nawaz Sharif telephoned Sirajul Haq and said he was withdrawing the order so that containers could be removed,” Gilani said and added the judiciary should protect its dignity, stopping any effort to politicise itself.

The PPP leader said Nawaz was talking of strengthening democracy but his party did not raise voice when an elected prime minister’s case was referred to the speaker.

“Now, how is Nawaz seeking support of others for strengthening the parliament?” he asked. He said the PML-N used to demand his and former president Asif Ali Zardari’s resignations. “And now others are demanding resignation of the prime minister,” Gilani said.

Another PPP leader Fawad Chaudhry has requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the Lahore High Court bench’s conduct on the petition against the marches of Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri.

“The judges had declared the demand for resignation of Nawaz unconstitutional. How can the court deny the citizens their fundamental rights as demanding premier’s resignation is not unconstitutional?” Mr Chaudhry asked.

“Taking out long march or demanding the prime minister’s resignation is an expression of political intent and it should be taken in that manner,” he said. He said the PML-N government had mishandled the protest call of the opposition parties for the day one. “Now if the government is sent packing in the wake of Azadi and Inqilab marches, the PML-N itself will be responsible,” Fawad Chaudhry said.

PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the political parties respected the judiciary as they struggled for its independence.

“But it should not allow itself to be politicised and hold its dignity,” Mr Elahi said.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2014