Ahead of SC hearing,Gilani defiant on Zardari issue

Gilani’s statements were aired on the eve of a hearing in the Supreme Court in which the premier faces indictment for contempt of court over his refusal to request the reopening of corruption cases against his party boss,President Asif Ali Zardari.

“There had been a lot of cases against him,and they were all politically motivated,” Gilani said,referring to Zardari. “He has got immunity. And he has not got immunity only in Pakistan,he has transnational immunity,even all over the world.” Asked if he would rather resign for the sake of the president,Gilani said if convicted of contempt,he would automatically lose office,so there was no need for him to quit.

“There’s no need to step down,” he said. “If I’m convicted,then I’m not supposed to be a member of the parliament.”

In the interview,Gilani said authorities in Islamabad gave no approval for US drone strikes. “I want to inform you that we did not allow or give permission to fly drones from Pakistan,” he said. “Number two,drones are counterproductive. And we had discussed thoroughly with the US administration that we at times make a lot of efforts to very successfully isolate militants from the local tribes.”

Drone attacks generate negative reaction,he said,with tribesmen in areas bordering Afghanistan. “Then the local tribes and the militants,they get united again,” he said. “They make our jobs extremely difficult. Then there is less political space for us.”

Gilani also said he had good relations with the military at the moment. On the issue of India and Pakistan’s relations,he said the two cannot afford more conflict and are “ready to discuss the issues that have long hampered the normalisation of relations.” “We have agreed to discuss all our core issues,including Kashmir.”