ISLAMABAD : The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has not established back channels contacts with President Pervez Musharraf and it is up to the Musharraf to decide whether he should step down, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.

The new coalition government led by the PPP is only working with Musharraf “according to the constitution” and would strive to ensure a “balance of power” between the presidency and the parliament, he said.

The Prime Minister said he had “excellent relations” with army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Gilani also said his government had the “full support” of Kayani.

“I have to follow the constitution. Therefore, I am working with the President according to the constitution of Pakistan,” he said in response to a question on whether he could convince ho Nawaz.

Dismissing media reports that the PPP had initiated back channel contacts with Musharraf for an arrangement whereby the President would be allowed to complete his term in exchange for giving up some of his powers; Gilani said he personally had no problems working with Musharraf if this was “according to the constitution of Pakistan”.

Asked if he personally hoped Musharraf would step down on his own, Gilani said: “I personally feel that I can only follow the constitution. For leaving the post, its his (Musharrafs) choice, not mine.” Asked if he would give Musharraf advice in this regard, he said, “(Musharraf) will never ask for my advice…Advice is sought, not hawked.”

Responding to a question on whether he would persuade Nawaz to allow Musharraf to continue and complete his term provided the President gave up some of his powers, Gilani said: “Why should I persuade Nawaz to allow Musharraf to complete his tenure?

He added: “We want the balance of power between the presidency and the parliament. At the same time, we want that according to the constitution and with a majority. But at the moment, even Nawaz knows that we dont have a majority in the upper house (of parliament).”

The Prime Minister hinted that the PPP might act to remove the Presidents power to dissolve parliament, saying it was “not part of the original constitution of 1973 which was given by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto”. The NSC was created by an act of parliament and could be scrapped whenever “the whole coalition feels like” doing so, he said.

Asked if he had Gen Kayanis support and loyalty, Gilani replied: “He is a highly professional officer, a general, and we are maintaining excellent relations with him.” He added he “certainly” had the armys support.

When it was pointed out that the Charter of Democracy has several provisions - including placing the Inter-Services Intelligence under civilian control, parliamentary scrutiny of the defence budget and annual declaration of assets of army officers - that could spark tensions with the military, Gilani said, “We have signed the Charter of Democracy and the parties would be working on these points.

“At the moment, we have discussed with the army chief, and he extends full support to the civil government.” Asked if Kayani had agreed to the provisions of the charter, he said: “To some extent, yes.” NNI (News Network International), 2008

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