News
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Gilani backs down on army remarks* PM dispels impression that military leadership violated rules
* Says his statement was made under unique situation when things were overlapping and there was no clarity
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani threw up another surprise on Wednesday by backtracking on his statement that the army chief and the DG ISI acted unconstitutionally by submitting their replies in the memo case without prior approval of the competent authority.
Speaking before his departure for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, Gilani said, “I want to dispel the impression that the military leadership acted unconstitutionally or violated rules. ...The current situation cannot afford conflict among the institutions.” In an interview with the People’s Daily Online of China, Gilani had said that the chief of army staff and ISI DG had submitted their replies to the court without seeking approval of the competent authority under the rules of business, therefore the statements were not legal.
Referring to his remarks, the prime minister said that they were made under a unique situation when things were overlapping and there was no clarity, but since now there was clarity and he, COAS and DG ISI had all met, the two gentlemen stand vindicated. Gilani’s remarks had pitted the military against the civilian government by infuriating the military’s high command, which responded with a stern press release, warning of “very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country”. The standoff had also sparked talk of a coup.
“A lot of events were taking place, and there was overlapping by a lot of government functionaries on many issues,” the premier said, adding that his statement was made in that context. He clarified that later some discrepancies were ascertained on behalf of certain functionaries, against whom he took action. Replying to a question about relations between various institutions of the state, Gilani said that the country cannot work in an atmosphere of confrontation among the institutions, and national interest required that they all be on same page.
Replying to a question about his meeting with army chief General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani and ISI DG General Pasha at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, the prime minister said, “The meeting purely focused on the security situation of the country vis-a-vis Afghanistan.” Speaking about the national economy, he said it was improving and cited a report by World Bank, which pointed out that there was recession in world economy but that Pakistan’s economy was improving. He said the WEF was familiar with this situation and he will be briefing it about Pakistan’s economic situation.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk