No plan of sacking Kayani, Pasha: Gilani
“The government does not want to remove or replace the Chief of Army Staff [Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani] or Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence [Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha],” Gilani said in an interaction with journalists.
Both the army and intelligence chiefs, said the prime minister, were appointed during a war-like situation and they cannot be removed while the country is still fighting the war. “We cannot change a general in the middle of a war,” he added and claimed credit for giving extension in tenures to the two generals.
Gilani quashed talk of a confrontation between the government and the military establishment saying that the “political situation is completely under control.”
Last week, Gen Kayani, in an unusual statement, also trashed the speculations about a military takeover and said that such rumours were being circulated to divert public attention from real issues. He did not name who he thought was behind the rumours.
Memogate case
The prime minister said that since the Memogate was a matter of national security, he had referred it to the parliamentary committee on national security for investigations without wasting time. He also asked then-Pakistani ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani to resign and return to Pakistan, so that proper investigations into the case could be started. “Before I would ask for it, Haqqani had submitted his resignation which I accepted immediately,” Gilani explained.
Pakistan-US relations
Gilani also spoke at length about the frosty relations with the United States. He said that the government was waiting for Pakistan Army’s inquiry report into the November 26 Nato air raid in Mohmand Agency which killed two dozen soldiers.
“Once the army releases its investigation’s details, we will discuss the matter with all the stakeholders and decide on the future terms of relationship with the US,” he said.
On Thursday, a Nato investigation into the deadly airstrike concluded that both the Brussels-based alliance and Pakistani forces made mistakes in the incident.
PTI’s growing popularity
The prime minister also tried to downplay any worries the ruling party may be having over the rapid political ascent of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
In his successful rally in Karachi, Imran had referred to President Asif Ali Zardari as “retired hurt” a criticism to which Gilani responded by saying that the president had been in politics for a very long time and knew how to guide his party without being in the limelight.
Asked whether or not the PTI was getting support from the security establishment as is being claimed by some political observers, the premier said that all he knew was “a king’s party survives till the time the king is around. Once the king is gone, the party dies out.”
In the past, the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) was accused of being a ‘king’s party’, for most believed that it was handpicked by Musharraf in an effort to legitimise his rule.
Situation in Balochistan
About the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan and growing sense of alienation among its people, the prime minister said that his government has already declared 2012 as the ‘year of Balochistan.’
He said his government has made substantial efforts to improve the situation in Balochistan but explained that “if a little is left undone, it will take us back to square one.”
According to the prime minister, the only major issue that remains unsolved is the issue of security, which he admitted at times, gets beyond the government’s control. “A state is responsible for providing security to its citizens and if it fails, then the people have every right to be upset about it,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (25)
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And how is Gilani supporting the army and Judiciary during war times? PPP Govt is part of the problem than solution.
Well, I think it was a slip of the tongue case.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.This shows and proves that removal of COAS and DG ISI issue definitely is being discussed in the parliament but luckily COAS' and DG ISI's removal proposal has been rejected.
All this chatter is in line with the contents of MemoGate
In brevity. Remember man is a social animal. He lives by a set of rules and regulations without whixh there would be anarchy. The greatest set of laws is the Quran and its implementation in the Sunnah. We derive our laws to suit our mode of living, cultures and traditions though its reference. In this way the Constitution of 1973 is the adopted supreme law of the land and must be obeyed. The organs and instruments of the state are there to support the state in its daily functions and the government is the Chief Operating Officer that overseea them. When the Chairman and the COO are incompetent and inept, common law is present but unapplied, then that is where equity (extra constitutional measures in this case) takes over. Salams to Pakistan
Congrats to people of Pakistan and particularly those whose has struggled for democracy and rule of law, for a sitting Prime Minister is telling the media that he would not sack Army chief and ISI chief(!!!!). it is an achievement of people and a milestone in the history of the Pakistan. Although, Mr. Gilani deserves a salute. Yet Mr. Gilani must salute to Nawaz Sharif for his heroic role during the life of this civilian government and to CJ. Without present supreme court under the leadership of incumbent CJ, even Nawaz Sharif could not have deterred whimsical opportunists to derail the civil rule. Nobody is against its own army- they are there even to lay their lives whenever need arises with exception of Yahya and Niazi - but generals also must own their people and should stop being dictated by their own ‘wisdom’.
@From Toronto With Love: Careful taking too many shots at parties. They might be part of PTI tomorrow.
Hey Gilani, how about Obama, are you keeping him or firing him? What about Manmohan Singh or say UN Secretory General - are you keeping them or firing?
"The prime minister also tried to downplay any worries the ruling party may be having over the rapid political ascent of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf."
At last Gilani has made a sensible statement. The biggest threat to PPP is PPP's own incompetence. Ever Nawaz Sharif did not fall to the depths displayed by this rubber stamp PM.
Another great opportunity squandered to tame the demon. These thugs along with their Arab overlords rule from behind the scenes a running a mercenary army playing with the lives of ordinary soldiers and citizens alike. Pakistanis never learn!
Is the house of cards beginning to tumble? Gilani asserts his non-existent executive authority, Babar Awan spews hatred, the Generals are bandied about as overstepping their authority, while the wolf in sheep's clothing orchestrates and manoeuvers from his in-laws' graves in Naudero. In the meantime, the opposition screams empty words for change because no political party has a concrete proposal based on specific goals that they can present to the people.
Let's see, who should fire whom? Let the least corrupt amongst us cast the first stone: but who can that possibly be? Certainly not the executive, the military, 'gormint', a sham parliament or that unidentified creature called 'the establishment'. And while the 18 crore awam debates all this, nobody is addressing the real issues today: strong textwe are a country that is unable to feed, clothe, educate and employ our burgeoning numbers. The middle class has disappeared and the so-called elite live in a different world from the rest of the country. The mullahs tell us to keep breeding so that we expand our ummah of semiliterates. Things are going from bad to worse. Perhaps we should pray to hit rock bottom soon because after that the only way is up.
Sadly, Pakistan has become so complicated in the last ten years that any solution needs consensus, continuity and commitment, all three of which are in short supply in current leaders. If we don't put together and execute a workable plan soon, we will have no option but to implode.
Oh please Gilani saab, worry about getting fired yourself. how low and below average calibre do people in ppp have, absolutely lame. I am amazed at how fixated this man is about completing the term and whatever the cost and whatever the means. this nations deserves better.
Pakistan is lucky to have a prime minister and president who are cool no way anyone else could have surrvived such an onslaught on a fledgling democracy by all too much has been expected fro PPP that is only leading a coa option government
@Anonymous: Don't blame the civilian government for everything. Unprecedented floods was not PPP's making! And most of the problems civilian government is facing today were created by Armed Forces & ISI through their foolish notions of Jihadi (terrorism) doctrine. These terror outfits have now turned back & started attacking their creator i.e Defense installations like Mehran Naval Base. What can civilian government do in less than one term (Benazir-1, Benazir-2, Nawaz-1, Nawaz-2 and now Gilani-1? If the democracy is allowed to function-and it needs patience on the part of the voters-it will undo all the ills created by silly policies of Pakistani Armed Forces. Jai Ho, Democracy in Pakistan!
Why Pakistani politicians always play Kabaddi when it comes to Top Army Brass? If you feel they are doing no good, stepping beyond their brief, you should fire them without hesitation. This "Love-You-Hate-You" game will only end up you getting removed by them by hook-or-crook. (More crook than hook!) Come on, Gilanisahab! Be a 'man' and show them the door!!
PM, you should KICK them out. ARMY (ISI included) is 5th most corrupt dept. of Pakistan.
Because we don't want to live in Jeddah for next 10y... lol, shouldn't laugh really.
Sadly, PPP lacks competent, honest and sincere leadership.
The elected govt and the parliament are the symbol of federation and no other institution is. All other institutions are paid govt servants and come under the parliament. The will of the people and sanctity of constitution must be respected at all costs. There would be no federation (Pakistan) without a constitution.
The political and military leadership should work hand in hand to save Pakistan from any foreign aggression.
We the people of Pakistan are standing behind the political leadership as well as with the armed forces.
I only know one thing and that is PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
very well said
good job