Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is expected to win Monday's confidence vote
Pakistan's PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has said parliament must choose between "democracy and dictatorship", in a critical vote of confidence.
Parliament is to vote on a resolution of confidence in its political leadership and democracy on Monday.The vote comes amid a deepening crisis between the government, the military and the judiciary.
It will be held as a Supreme Court deadline expires for the government to reopen political corruption cases.
The deadline was set after the court quashed a government amnesty for politicians, including Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, and is seen as a direct challenge to the government.
The announcement of the confidence vote comes after several public disputes have brought relations between the government and the military to an all-time low, correspondents say.
Fears for stability
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It was another nail-biting day at the national parliament where voting on a critical resolution had to be put off due to differences over its wording among members of the ruling alliance.
The government is confident that a resolution about confidence in democracy and the political leadership would be carried through on Monday. It then intends to get similar resolutions passed from at least three of the four provincial parliaments where it enjoys majority.
The purpose is to counter the pressure from the Supreme Court which will start hearing a case on Monday that could potentially disqualify Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
In recent weeks, the military has also been building pressure on the government, and is participating in another court case that can possibly condemn President Asif Zardari as a "traitor".
The government is now banking on parliamentary support, and the fears of a wider political crisis if it is booted out, as a way to stave off the crisis.
Analysis
The government is confident that a resolution about confidence in democracy and the political leadership would be carried through on Monday. It then intends to get similar resolutions passed from at least three of the four provincial parliaments where it enjoys majority.
The purpose is to counter the pressure from the Supreme Court which will start hearing a case on Monday that could potentially disqualify Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
In recent weeks, the military has also been building pressure on the government, and is participating in another court case that can possibly condemn President Asif Zardari as a "traitor".
The government is now banking on parliamentary support, and the fears of a wider political crisis if it is booted out, as a way to stave off the crisis.
In a defiant speech, Mr Gilani urged MPs to protect the country's democracy and said he "will not beg support from anyone".
He said that anyone who had a hand in removing his government would be setting back democracy in Pakistan. "Now we have to decide whether we should have democracy or dictatorship in this country. If we have committed any mistakes, it does not mean that democracy or parliament should be punished," the prime minister told parliamentarians.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says some will see this as a clever move by Mr Gilani; others will read it as a sign of desperation.
His calculation is that he can save himself by portraying anyone who tries to bring his government down as the enemy of democracy, our correspondent says.
Analysts believe Mr Gilani is likely to win the vote of confidence, and that parliament's seal of approval is likely to strengthen his hand.
Meanwhile Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has returned to Pakistan after a brief visit to Dubai.
His departure on Thursday fuelled rumours of an impending coup, in a country which has a history of army takeovers.
But officials said he was there to attend a wedding. Mr Zardari had heart treatment in Dubai last month.
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