News
Saturday, December 17, 2011
No standoff between govt, army* Gilani, Kayani agree that replies forwarded by COAS and DG ISI were in response to SC notice, through proper channel and in accordance with rules of business
* PM reiterates govt and its institutions remain committed to their constitutional roles
* Govt’s stance regarding jurisdiction of court on memo issue still to be heard
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Friday, categorically rejected rumours that there was a standoff between the government and army over the memogate issue.
The prime minister held a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at the Prime Minster’s House, during which they underscored the significance of national unity to address the challenges faced by the nation. Taking serious note of the rumors regarding a confrontation over the memo issue, the premier strongly rejected the notion. He reiterated that the government and its institutions remained committed to their constitutional roles and obligations to a democratic and prosperous future for Pakistan.
The prime minister further said that the government’s stance regarding jurisdiction of the Supreme Court on the memo issue was still to be heard by the court. The prime minister and the army chief also agreed that replies forwarded by the COAS and DG ISI were in response to the notice of the court, through proper channel and in accordance with the rules of business, and should not be misconstrued as a standoff between the Army and the government.
Meanwhile, the PPP government Friday dubbed the memogate case “fictitious” in a stark contradiction to the stance of military brass, which has called it reality when it submitted its replies in the apex court. Although the government has been casting doubts over the case for quite some time, it took a clear stance in its parliamentary committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, and also attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Prime Minister Gilani categorically stated that memo issue holds no truth and termed it a conspiracy against the government and the present democratic system. The parliamentary committee meeting of the PPP was heavily-attended. The ruling party, under stress from the memo issue, resolved in the meeting that attempts to derail the democratic system will be foiled.
According to insiders, the meeting thoroughly discussed the current political situation in the country, especially with reference to memo case and also discussed the party’s course of action to counter the tirade of political opponents over various issues. Divergent views of the members of the party marked the meeting. The PM reportedly asked the party cadres to prepare for the political mobilisation of party’s vote bank in the beginning of the next year. The meeting discussed various important issues, like prevailing political scenario, memogate scandal, replies regarding memogate submitted in Supreme Court by government and Army, Senate elections of 2012. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk