Zend Framework 2 getQuery() returns null - zend-framework2

Question

I am learning about the request class.
I have this url http://localahost/blog/search?year=2013&month=07
When i try print_r($_GET) it returns the array as expected.
When i try print_r($request->getQuery());
It returns an empty object Zend\Stdlib\Parameters Object ( [storage:ArrayObject:private] => Array ( ) )
So echo $request->getQuery()->year; returns nothing...
My .htaccess (if needed)
RewriteEngine On
# The following rule tells Apache that if the requested filename
# exists, simply serve it.
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -s [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -l [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^.*$ - [NC,L]
# The following rewrites all other queries to index.php. The
# condition ensures that if you are using Apache aliases to do
# mass virtual hosting, the base path will be prepended to
# allow proper resolution of the index.php file; it will work
# in non-aliased environments as well, providing a safe, one-size
# fits all solution.
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI}::$1 ^(/.+)(.+)::\2$
RewriteRule ^(.*) - [E=BASE:%1]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ %{ENV:BASE}index.php [NC,L]

Answer 1

WHat you are doing as Mentioned in your Comments was that you are Doing
$request= new $request();
What you need to know is that when you extend a class with AbstractActionController you dont need to do $request= new $request(). AbstractActionController provides you
getRequest()
from which you can fetch request and its data.