ISLAMABAD: Although shaken by the latest developments surrounding the memo scandal, the PPP leadership is hopeful that it will once again prove the prophets of doom wrong.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday talked about a conspiracy against his government, but said: “For the last four years some quarters day in and day out are working to destabilise the elected government, but failed in the end, therefore, now trying some more tricks to achieve their aim.”

Talking to media at a hotel after attending a ceremony, Mr Gilani, not looking his usual composed self, in a veiled reference to the PML-N, said the party wanted to avoid Senate elections.

The prime minister, in a firm tone, said: “I want to tell them loud and clear the present system has not come into being overnight. It is the result of unimaginable number of sacrifices my party made. We are here to stay.”

He said gone were the days when elected governments used to be wrapped up as a result of conspiracy.

In reply to a question about the government’s response to the SC ruling on constitution of a one-man commission, Prime Minister Gilani said his legal team would respond to it. Asked whether the government was going for a confrontation with Nato as the army chief has allowed field commanders to respond in case of such incursions in future on their own, Mr Gilani said it was not confrontation, but being responsible.

In reply to an observation that boycotting the Bonn conference will be detrimental for the country, Mr Gilani’s response was: “No comment.”

But sources close to the PPP top bosses said their unconcern in public belied the fears going through their minds.

The leadership is quite perturbed over recent developments and feels that all major players had closed ranks for some decisive move against the party, a PPP office-bearer said. “A frontal attack is under way against the party from all flanks: judiciary, army and the PML-N. All are looking united against the government.”

And there are strong indicators to believed that some hidden forces are lunging for the PPP government, he added.

After Mansoor Ijaz’s op-ed piece in the Financial Times of London, in which he revealed his alleged correspondence with Mr Haqqani that led up to memogate, relationship between military and civilian leadership is going through serious strains.

The PML-N, instead of ratcheting up pressure on the government through media and public, has decided to go to the court.

And from nowhere, the Supreme Court set an early date for hearing of petitions filed on the memogate including that of Mr Nawaz Sharif.

Above all, decision by Mr Nawaz Sharif to plead the case in person is another unusual development that has disturbed the PPP government. The PML-N also downplayed the government’s decision to investigate the memogate scandal at the level of parliamentary committee on national security.

Asked about the PPP’s contingency plan to counter the move, they said, besides having meetings within the party, the party leadership had taken its coalition partners on board, informing them about the potential threats to the government.

“We have categorically informed them about the latest rather threatening conspiracy, and president’s continuous meetings with political leadership were part of this strategy,” said a senior PPP leader.

Over the last three days, President Zardari has met PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and ANP supremo Asfandyar Wali Khan. He has also and telephoned JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and MQM leader Altaf Hussain in London.