Opposition lawmakers led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) carry placards as they march in front of the Parliament House building during a protest rally in Islamabad on October 6, 2011. – Photo by AFP

TAXILA: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday dismissed opposition's tirade against President Zardari and said he (Zardari) stands tall amongst the democrats as he had restored the Constitution and handed over his powers to the parliament.

“Never in the history (of the country) has been a president who transferred his powers on his own to the prime minister,” Gilani told a large gathering here at the inauguration of an underpass on the GT Road.

The PM said President Zardari had transferred his powers because he believed in the supremacy of the parliament and for the sake of the country, the people and strengthening of democracy.

“Which other government in the past that enjoyed the two-third majority, restored the Constitution in its original form,” he questioned.

He regretted that President Asif Ali Zardari was being blamed for not doing anything to strengthen democracy, whereas the restoration of the 1973 Constitution to its original form goes to his credit.

Prime Minister Gilani said throughout his political life, he witnessed confrontation between different sections of the political spectrum and forces against the Pakistan Peoples Party who tried to level false allegations against it.

He, however, said the government has proved beyond doubt that they have the support of the masses and have successfully presented the fourth budget.

He regretted the trend of blaming the politicians for all the ills and corruption, and pointed that contrarily, neither of the dictators - president Zia, Yahya or General Musharraf - was blamed for corruption.

The Prime Minister said the 2008 election was the success of the democratic forces and said his government came into power through the ballot and not through a back door.

He said the government had handed over the most important position of the Chairman Publics Accounts Committee to the opposition to judge the performance of the government.

“What else the government could have done to please its opponents,” he said.