Gilani meets Zardari before trust vote

Islamabad, Jan 16 (IBNS) Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and coalition partners, after the Pakistan Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the Prime Minister in connection to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case.

The meeting took place at Gilani´s official residence in Islamabad.

Earlier the day, the apex court directed Gilani to personally appear before the court on Jan 19.

The SC called Gilani ´dishonest´ and accused him of not implementing court orders.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is likely to seek a trust vote in Parliament on Monday.

The South Asian nation is passing through critical times as tensions have been on the rise in recent months between Pakistan´s civilian government and military leaders, the latest row heightened instability in the nuclear-armed nation, that has been ruled by the military for more than half it´s history after seizing power in a series of coups.

On Jan 9, Gilani told China´s People´s Daily Online that Pakistan´s army chief and head of intelligence Gen Ashfaq Kayani had acted unconstitutionally by making submissions to a Supreme Court inquiry which has been rocking the government.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday addressed the special session of the Pakistan´s National Assembly and said that the democracy of the country needs to be ´strengthened´.

He said that there is no need of a ´vote of confidence´.

"I do not need a vote of confidence. This House had unanimously elected me," Gilani said.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari cut short a private visit to Dubai and returned to Islamabad as speculation mounted whether he would survive the escalating uncertainty between his government and the country´s powerful military.

Zardari's Dubai trip came at a time when his government is facing an onset from the opposition parties including Imran Khan´s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for the ongoing crisis between the government and the country´s strong military leadership.

Khan blamed both Zardari and the Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for the crisis situation in the South Asian nation.

The former cricketer turned politician said that both Gilani and Zardari should resign from their position, adding his party will not support a military coup and the country can only come out of the current crisis through a fresh election.

The fresh exchange of barbs between the government and the army occurred amid another controversy over a diplomatic memo accusing military of plotting another coup that is being probed by a Supreme Court-appointed judicial commission.