ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s prime minister appealed for support Friday from the parliament in a standoff between his beleaguered government and the military, saying lawmakers had to choose between “democracy and dictatorship.”
Tensions between the armed forces and the civilian leadership have escalated recently, raising fears of a coup attempt. There also are concerns that the army might support possible moves by the Supreme Court to oust the government.
The military and the government have been locked in a standoff for months, but a scandal that erupted last year after an unsigned memo was sent to Washington asking for its help in heading off a supposed coup has caused friction to spike this week.
Opposition parties have spoken out against any military takeover, but they are seeking to exploit the situation to push for early polls.
General elections are not scheduled until early 2013, but many people expect they will take place sooner.
On Monday, the parliament is set to vote on a “show of confidence” in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The resolution prepared by the government and its coalition partners pledges “full confidence and trust” in the political leadership. It also says that all state institutions must act within limits imposed by the constitution — an apparent rebuke to the military for crossing into politics. Given the ruling party’s majority in the house, it should pass and give a boost to the government.
Gilani said the parliament must choose Monday between “democracy or dictatorship.” The government is determined not to step down before Senate polls scheduled for March.
That vote is carried out by lawmakers and is expected to give President Asif Ali Zardari’s and Gilani’s Pakistan People’s Party a majority in the upper house, handing it a lot of political power for the next six years.
