Pak leaders at each other's throats...
Crisis in Pak: Gilani sacks defence secy, army warns PM
Jan 11, 2012: A confrontation between the army and the government came to a head in Pakistan on Wednesday with the powerful army chief warning that the Prime Minister's critical remarks against him and the ISI chief over the memo scandal could have "very serious ramifications" for the country.
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Monitoring situation in Pakistan: US
Jan 12, 2012 WASHINGTON: The United States has said it is monitoring the situation in Pakistan and reiterated its commitment to a civilian-led democracy there.
Crisis in Pak: Gilani sacks defence secy, army warns PM
Jan 11, 2012: A confrontation between the army and the government came to a head in Pakistan on Wednesday with the powerful army chief warning that the Prime Minister's critical remarks against him and the ISI chief over the memo scandal could have "very serious ramifications" for the country.
Reacting sharply to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's contention that the army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha had acted in an illegal manner in the memo scandal, a terse army statement said these remarks could have "very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences". "There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has levelled against COAS and DG ISI (army chief and spy chief) and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the constitution of the country," said the army's statement. "This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country."
Just minutes after the strongly worded warning by the army, Gilani sacked defence secretary Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Naeem Lodhi, considered close to the army chief, marking an escalation in the row. The fast-paced developments came as the government was on a collision course with the judiciary too, with the Supreme Court warning yesterday that action could be taken against both the President and Prime Minister for failing to act on a court order to reopen corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari. Earlier, Zardari made it clear that he did not intend to resign even as an urgent session of parliament has been called to consider the situation. Zardari through his spokesman refuted reports that he had offered to resign at a meeting of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its allies late last night.
Two days after Gilani had said that the army and ISI chiefs had filed affidavits on the memo issue in the Supreme Court without obtaining the government's permission, the powerful military said there could be "no allegation more serious" than that made by the premier. Gilani had made the remarks during an interview with the online edition of China's state-run People's Daily on Monday. He said replies filed by army chief Kayani and ISI chief Pasha to the Supreme Court in connection with the alleged memo did not have the approval of the competent authority as required under the rules of business. He further said no formal proposal seeking the approval of the competent authority for these two replies was initiated by the defence ministry.
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Monitoring situation in Pakistan: US
Jan 12, 2012 WASHINGTON: The United States has said it is monitoring the situation in Pakistan and reiterated its commitment to a civilian-led democracy there.
The strong statement in support of the civilian government gains significance in the wake of the increased tension between the government led by the President, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Pakistani military led by its army chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. This has given rise to speculation of another military coup in Pakistan, which since it gained its independence in 1947 has been ruled by the Army for majority of the years. "We support a civilian-led government, we have strong relations with the Pakistani military as well, and we want to see the parties work well together - this is a matter for Pakistan to settle.
I don't think it's appropriate for the United States to be in the middle of it," the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters during an off camera news conference yesterday. The US Embassy in Islamabad, led by the Ambassador, Cameron Munter, is in constant touch with leaders of Pakistan, she said. "We continue to have broad contacts with the Pakistani leadership. Ambassador Munter is in country. He's seeing a broad cross-section of people. We have said that we are ready to discuss the parliamentary report when they are ready to discuss it with us," Nuland said.
Responding to questions on the tension between the Pak army and the civilian government, Nuland said this is an internal matter of Pakistan. "With regard to some of the press reporting we've seen in recent days it's obviously an internal matter for Pakistan to settle. We are monitoring it. We want to see all parties in Pakistan behave in a manner consistent with Pakistan's constitution, with its democratic processes, civil discourse, et cetera," she said.
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