Kayani rules out military takeover

Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani today said his force will back democracy and dismissed speculation of a military takeover as "misleading", saying they are being used as a "bogey" to divert the focus from "real issues".

The statement came a day after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani warned that conspiracies are being hatched to "pack up" his democratically elected government.
The army chief "reiterated that the Pakistan Army has and will continue to support democratic process in the country".

"The Army is fully cognizant of its constitutional obligations and responsibilities," an army statement today quoted Kayani as saying during his visit to the forward posts in Mohmand and Kurram tribal regions.

Yesterday, Gilani in an unprecedented tongue-lashing against the military said that conspiracies are being hatched against his government.

However, Inter-Services Public Relations' statement today said, "He (Kayani) strongly dispelled the speculations of any military takeover and said that these are misleading and are being used as a bogey to divert the focus from the real issues."
The statement did not elaborate what the "real issues" were.

Kayani emphasised that the issues of national security need to be considered on merit alone.

"He concluded by saying that irrespective of all other considerations, there can be no compromise on national security.

"While speaking to the troops, he appreciated the successes achieved under trying environment and the sacrifices made in the process," the statement said.

The Army chief said that no one can put a price tag on the scared blood of those who have sacrificed their lives for the nation.

"The men and women of Pakistan Army are performing their duty of defending Pakistan in accordance with the oath they took.

"They will continue to do so with the support and prayers of their countrymen, regardless of the cost," Kayani said.

The differences between the civilian administration and the military came to the fore yesterday after Gilani strongly criticised the army for failing to detect Osama bin Laden's presence in the country and warned that conspiracies were being hatched to oust his government.

"I want to make it clear today that there are intrigues and conspiracies going on and the conspiracy is to pack up the elected government," Gilani had said, without naming the conspirators.

Against the backdrop of tensions between the government and the military over the memogate scandal, Gilani said the people have to decide whether they want "elected people or a dictatorship".

Gilani also criticised the security establishment for its failure to detect bin Laden's presence in Pakistan.

Referring to questions being asked in some quarters about visas issued by the government to US security personnel, Gilani told lawmakers: "We want to ask which visa did he (bin Laden) use to come (to Pakistan)? How he entered Pakistan?"

The differences between the government and the military are linked to the Memogate scandal.

The army and the ISI have urged the Supreme Court to conduct a probe into the alleged memo made public by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz that had sought US help to prevent a feared coup in Pakistan after the killing of bin Laden.

However, the government has challenged the apex court's jurisdiction to hear a batch of petitions seeking a probe into the scandal, saying the matter is already being investigated by a parliamentary panel.

The government has said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani played no role in drafting or delivering the alleged memo.

Pakistan has been ruled by the military for almost half of its history and no elected leader has been able to complete his full term.