In a bid to melt the ice, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani talked to him before the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued the military’s reaction to the sacking of the defence minister. “We have always stood by the army and we have nothing against anyone,” the prime minister told reporters in Islamabad. He said democracy would continue to function in the country and the Senate elections would be held on time, adding that he dismissed the defence secretary for “disciplinary reasons”.
About his interview with a Chinese newspaper, the premier said it was scheduled before the General Kayani’s visit to China. He said he did not have anything personal against anyone, but rules of business were violated when the COAS and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief filed replies to the Supreme Court bypassing the Defence and Law ministries.
He said Gen Kayani did talk to him and inform him of his desire to issue a statement. “I said it is all right if you want to give a clarification, I don’t have any problem,” said the premier. Gilani said he was surprised and hurt that the SC declared him a dishonest man without hearing him.
PM House denies purported fraud: Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Prime Minister’s House denied news reports seeking to implicate the office of the prime minister in a fraud committed by Mian Khurram Rasool. The spokesman on Wednesday said the allegations were contrary to the facts on the ground and intended as aspersions on the chief executive of the country. “The spokesman stated that Mian Khurram Rasool served as Pakistan Television Corporation Limited media adviser in northern Pakistan, and had nothing to do with the office of the prime minister.” He said following facts were being presented to correct the record and misconceptions, adding that Rasool, while working as media coordinator with PTV, fraudulently extracted an amount of Rs 430 million from Pervez Hussain and his son Sameer Hussain with the collusion of another three accomplices.
“On receipt of a secret report on the fraudulent activities of Khurram Rasool, Nargis Sethi, the then principal secretary to the prime minister, on the instructions of the prime minister, directed the FIA to immediately initiate an enquiry into the allegation of fraud committed by Khurram Rasool. During the course of enquiry conducted by the FIA, it transpired that Rasool had deceitfully extracted the said amount from Pervez Hussain in connivance with his accomplices Shahid Mehmood, Zafar Jawed and Ghulam Ghouse,” he said.
The spokesman said consequently, an FIR no 5/2011 was lodged by FIA Commercial Banking Circle, Islamabad, on March 11, 2011 on the complaint of Nargis Sethi. His services as media coordinator were terminated forthwith.
The spokesman said these facts clearly prove that not only the FIR was lodged by the principal secretary to the prime minister but the Prime Minister’s Secretariat had been pursuing the case ever since.
Indeed a clarification to his BOSS !
Mending the ways
What does the word "spoke "imply? Did the COAS inform the P.M. of his intentions to issue a warning or did he ask permission to issue it.? Was the content cleared by the attorney general.? Was it necessary?
Mr PM you are on a slippery slope. You are responsible for the developing tension amongst all the institutions—-judiciary, army and your admin.
The first thing one does to come out of a hole is to stop digging. Please stop running from pole to pillar and stop issuing statements to controll damage. it is allready done!
The writing is on the wall. Care to read it?
What does the word "spoke "imply? Did the COAS inform the P.M. of his intentions to issue a warning or did he ask permission to issue it.? Was the content cleared by the attorney general.? Was it necessary? Mr.PM you are runing from pillar to post causing tensions between army, judiciary and your admin. The first thing one does to come out of a hole is to stop digging. please stop issuing misleading statements. The writing is on the wall –Care to read it?
Khakis must remain obedient to democratically elected government. These khakis need to be cut to size. The people of Pakistan must rise against their inappropriate behaviour.
Let us not play this drama in public. Let us not be Caesar, Brutus and Anthony at the same time.Democracy is messy at best of time but when the birth is messy it is time to work as a team. The world is laughing at us . Our enemies are enjoying it. Our inexperience is showing through and through!
Our prime Minister is looking more and more tired. To me he looks burnt out. Take some time off.Period!
And said "Oh BAKARI." and in the words of Mustafa Qureshi " Sohnia! nawan ain aye?
At times I feel sorry for our PM; the way he stands on his tail and then immediately turns on the pacification damage control program: The most apt description that comes to mind is "Razia Ghundoon Mein Phass Gayi Hai".
wow what civilized and democratic and progressive nation..!!!!!!!!!!
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