The Pakistan Army is fed up with President Asif Ali Zardari and wants him out of office, but through legal means and without a repeat of the coups that are a hallmark of the country’s 64 years of independence, military sources said.
Tensions are rising between Pakistan’s civilian leaders and its generals over a memo that accused the army of plotting a coup after the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May.
“Who isn’t fed up with Zardari? It’s not just the opposition and the man on the street but people within the government too,” said one military source who asked not to be named. “But there has to be a proper way. No action is being planned by the army. Even if we tried, it would be very unpopular and not just with the government and the opposition but most Pakistanis too.” The Pakistani military spokesman declined comment.
The military, which determines security and foreign policy, dismisses any suggestion that it might stage a coup but analysts say intervention could not be ruled out in the event of chaos. In the past the army has asked Pakistani civilian leaders to resign and influenced judicial proceedings against them.
At one point, army chief General Ashfaq Kayani hinted to the US ambassador to Islamabad that he might have to persuade Zardari to step down because of political turmoil, according to a 2009 cable released by WikiLeaks. But luckily for Zardari, it seemed the army concluded he was a better option than other leaders it distrusted even more.
Saudi Arabia, which has considerable influence in Pakistan because of its economic support, has expressed concern over the friction between the army and the government. “Pakistan is a big and important country and it is important that any potential tensions are eliminated through diplomatic means,” a Saudi source told Reuters, requesting anonymity.
One of the military sources suggested that no direct action would be needed against the government because it had already made so many mistakes. “If the government is digging its own grave, we are not going to look for spades,” the source said. “We want anyone involved, be they in government or elsewhere, to be punished. But it is not for us to do anything. If the army moves to do anything it would have national as well as international repercussions,” said another military source. “So that is not likely. Anything that has to be done has to be done by the Supreme Court.”
Officials from Zardari’s ruling party have played down friction with the military and say they don’t fear a coup. But they fear that some judges in the increasingly aggressive SC dislike Zardari and could move against him. “I am not bothered about the army. I think they are acting very sensibly and would not derail the system at the moment,” a senior ruling party leader told Reuters. “The worry probably would be what the SC does. They look in a mood to manipulate things.”
The government’s anxiety over memogate was highlighted in comments made by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday.
Army wants Zardari out but no coup
