Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has always acknowledged role of political government and its mandate to hold talks with Baloch leaders, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday and also dispelled the impression by MNA Saad Rafique that the army would hold talks with political leaders in Balochistan.
Prime Minister Gilani clarified that General Kayani never made such remarks, and said the army chief categorically stated that democratic government needs to talk to Baloch leaders as it was not the task of the army to hold such a dialogue. He also dispelled the impression that the government wanted to create differences in Karachi, and added that his government only desired peace in the city.
On the other hand, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Khalid Shamim Wyne called on Prime Minister Gilani and discussed security situation in the country. He apprised the prime minister about the professional matters relating to the armed forces and their commitment to fight out the scourge of extremism.
Later on, chairing high powered Promotion Board meeting at the PM House, Prime Minister Gilani approved promotion of officers of Accounts, Secretariat and Police groups in Grade 22. The officers in the Accounts Group include; Muhammad Akhtar Buland Rana (Punjab), Shah Nawaz Khattak (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Syed Ahmed Phanwar (Sindh rural).
In the Secretariat Group, the officers include; Haroon Rashid (Balochistan), Sarshar Ahmed Khan (Punjab), Ghulam Rasool Aphan (Sindh rural). In the Police Group, the officers include Aftab Sultan (Punjab) and Zafarullah Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
