He will take oath as Pakistan’s 20th prime minister on Tuesday from the man who jailed him in 2001 for five years on corruption charges.
Gillani, 58, was jailed two years after Musharraf seized power on charges of corruption while he was the National Assemble Speaker from 1993 to 1996.
“Parliament is a reflection of the people and their aspirations. We will work for the supremacy of parliament,” he said shortly after filing his nomination papers for Monday’s contest, which he is sure to win.
“I’ll follow the constitution,” he said, not hinting anything on whether he would maintain a working relationship with Musharraf or ask the General to step down.
Moreover, Gillani said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has put confidence in him, and that the party will decide how long it wants him to be the Prime Minister.
Zardari not out
On Saturday, there were rumours that co-chairman of PPP Asif Ali Zardari was keen to become the PM after three months once he is elected to the National assembly.
Moreover, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has asked Musharraf to quit after the General’s allies were defeated in the poll. But senior PPP leaders have said that they will forge a “working relationship” with the General as the PPP does not have the two-thirds majority in parliament required to impeach the President.
During consultations over the past two weeks on the prime ministerial candidate, many PPP lawmakers suggested that Zardari should become the prime minister. Reports have suggested that he might assume the post after contesting by-elections to the National Assembly.