Thaindian News

Islamabad, Jan 27 (IANS) All stakeholders in the country favour democracy in Pakistan and “no one has a desire to violate the constitution”, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said in Davos where is attending the World Economic Forum.

Gilani Thursday rejected any perception of a clash between the state institutions and said all stakeholders in the country favoured democracy.

He said that since several things were happening at the same time, it was being felt that there was some kind of clash, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

Referring to his meeting with army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha prior to his departure for Davos, Gilani said it focused on security matters related to Afghanistan and was also attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

Gilani said civil society, the intelligentsia, the media, the parliamentarians, want democracy in the country.

“Nobody is in favour of something other than democracy. Democracy is strong and will stay intact and no one has a desire to violate the Constitution,” he said.

The past few months have been quite tense in Pakistan following a clash between the powerful army and the political leadership. A secret memo said President Asif Ali Zardari had feared a military takeover following the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden May 2 last year.

Gilani had taken on the army by charging the army chief and the spy chief’s court affidavit in memogate was unconstitutional, heightening tension. He, however, took a dramatic about turn Wednesday when he retracted that statement.