Gilani denies report that he called UK, fearing a coup

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has denied a report that he spoke to the British High Commissioner in Islamabad last week seeking help to prevent a coup. A statement from Mr Gilani's office clarified, "The democratic government led by Prime Minister draws its strength from the people of Pakistan and not from any foreign power."

The Associated Press had reported, "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani asked High Commissioner Adam Thomson for Britain to support his embattled government, according to the officials, who didn't give their names because of the sensitivity of the issue. It's unclear if the British government took any action."

This has been a week of public hostility between the army and the civilian government in Pakistan. The army has warned of serious consequences for Mr Gilani's criticism of army chief General Ashraf Parvez Kayani and ISI head Lieutenant General Shuja Pasha. Mr Gilani had criticised them for acting as "a state within a state" and had warned that would not be tolerated. The growing rift between the army and the government of President Asif Ali Zaradari lies in a secret memo that asked the US for help in preventing a military takeover in the days after Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad. The army has asked for a Supreme Court investigation to determine whether the memo was sent at the behest of President Zardari. The court will decide that and whether the government can stay in power.

As President Zardari returned home from an overnight visit to Dubai, his ally, Mr Gilani addressed an emergency session of Parliament where he said that "democracy should not be punished for mistakes made by the government." He also ruled out seeking a vote of confidence.  The ruling coalition also introduced a resolution in Parliament which pledges "full confidence and trust" in the political leadership and emphasises that all state institutions must act within the parametres of the constitution, an apparent reference to the influential Army, which has been accused of interfering in the political arena.

The resolution will be put to vote on Monday.  That's also when a full 17-member bench of the Supreme Court will hear the government's response to a six-point "do-or-die" ultimatum given to the government to reopen old graft cases against Mr Zardari and others.

The government has so far refused to carry out these orders, prompting the Supreme Court to stress that it could take action against both the President and the Prime Minister. The court had said Mr Gilani is "not an honest man".