Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday dismissed calls by the main opposition PML-N party for mid-term polls even as he ruled out the 
Gilani accused those desiring the removal of his government through mid-term elections or the imposition of martial law of being involved in a conspiracy against Pakistan.
All those seeking the dissolution of National Assembly or lower house of Parliament and calling for mid-term elections are actually trying to tear the country apart and derail democracy, he said.
“I will not dissolve the (National Assembly), I will protect it,” Gilani said after PML-N MP Hanif Abbasi raised a point of order in the lower house and advocated dissolution of Parliament for holding mid-term polls.
The people having the desire to “break the National Assembly” are not with the country, Parliament or people, he said.
“They are trying to hatch a conspiracy against the country,” he added.
These elements were also hoping that the army would step in to impose partial law, Gilani indicated.
“Do not have the wrong impression that the army will impose martial law. The armed forces are pro-democracy,” he said.
Pakistan’s army has a history of staging coups against the democratically-elected governments.
Former President Pervez Musharraf had also captured power through a bloodless coup in 1999 when he was the army chief.
Gilani said all parties had come to Parliament after being elected by the people and it is their responsibility to protect the National Assembly.
He said he had already offered to hold discussions on the PML-N’s proposal to frame a “Charter of Pakistan” to ensure good governance.
“We are willing to seek your guidance for the improvement of the government,” he told the opposition.
The unpopularity of the ruling PPP led by President Asif Ali Zardari has increased due to its perceived failure to tackle problems like terrorism and an economic meltdown even as the government has come under pressure from the Supreme Court to crack down on corruption.
PPP leaders like Zardari and Gilani have insisted the government will complete its full five-year term in 2013.
However, several senior PML-N leaders have called for holding mid-term elections in recent days, saying the PPP-led government had failed on all fronts.