Pakistan military’ public relations department – ISPR has issued a statement that last Sunday the telephonic conversation between President Zardari and Army Chief General Kayani lasted for one minute during which the general asked about the president’ health. This statement itself speaks volumes of the relationship between a civilian government and one of its organs – army. Regardless of the ballot power with which the civilian government is installed in Islamabad, the bullet power remains the supreme.
What was the harm if we were caught with the misunderstanding that these two gentlemen talked to each other for a longer duration? That could have helped to stabilise the political uncertainty in the country – the country whose central bank has just announced the annual growth rate for 2011 as low as 2.4%.
As both the army chief and DG intelligence are maintaining their version on memo scandal in the Supreme Court, they are getting a sympathetic hearing in the court. Excerpts from generals’ statements are often quoted by the honourable judges. The writing on the wall is not that obscure – bullet over ballot.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
