PM declines removal of COAS, ISI DG

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said that those opportunists who are talking about removal of Army Chief and ISI DG are living in fool’s paradise. There is not any truth in these rumours, he clarified.
Speaking to journalists at Prime Minister’s House, he said there are rumours that the government probably wants to change the top military brass including Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and ISI DG Ahmed Shuja Pasha as you cannot take risk to change commanders in the mid of the war. Only some elements are presenting this theory before the nation, which is absolutely wrong, he maintained.
“The president gave extension to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and DG ISI Ahmad Shuja Pasha on my request and I am happy on my decision and also satisfied with both the generals. General Kiyani is pro-democratic”, he added.
To another question about his remarks of state within state, Gilani clarified, it pertained to the attitude of federal secretary for defence and added, every institution is working under government and there cannot be a separate government.
The prime minister also rejected the notion of any tension between the government and army and said, “How can we run government affairs smoothly if there would be any tension. Today I talked to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee General Khalid Shamim Wyne on certain issues,” Gilani added.
He said after the NATO attack, meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) was called, political and civil leadership assembled and decisions pertaining to national security were taken.
The NATO supply was halted, Shamsi Airbase was vacated, Bonn conference was boycotted and “we showed solidarity with the 24 brave martyred soldiers and military”, he added.
The prime minister said at the meeting of DCC, it was decided to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that will prepare recommendations to be put before the joint sitting of the Parliament, so it can decide new terms of engagement with United States, NATO and ISAF.
To another question, he asked to follow a time-line to restructure public sector organisations including PIA, Railways, PEPCO and others and added that the government cannot go on using the option of borrowing and printing money as it will not be good for the economy.
It is right of the opposition to play to the gallery and embarrass the government, he said and added, he had been in the government many times and since 1947 he was constantly hearing the statements that Pakistan was going through very difficult times.
Politics is a day to day affair and nobody should worry whether the country or religion is in danger, he remarked. Gilani said he realises that people are facing problem of electricity and gas shortages but want to provide relief within available resources as every government will like to get vote on the basis of its performance.
The prime minister said it is customary not to accept the result of elections. The same happened in 1977 elections when results were not accepted and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and opposition parties held talks and all points were agreed but the third force came and a long martial law followed.