**I begged Kayani, Pasha to accept extensions: Gilani
**
Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has dispelled the impression of a government-military standoff when he announced on Monday the government had no intention to remove the Army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and DG ISI Lt. General (retd) Ahmad Shuja Pasha, terming the idea as ‘foolish’.
“Generals are not removed in the middle of a war” he remarked and added that Kayani or Pasha had never asked for an extension last year, rather it was he who requested them to continue. “General Kayani is pro-democracy,” the prime minister told a hurriedly-called news conference at the PM House.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, who made headlines a day earlier when she offered ‘teary’ resignation at the federal cabinet meeting in Karachi, was conspicuous by her absence and no official of her ministry was present during the prime minister’smedia interaction.
The news conference took place amid speculation that the chief executive of the country could announce removal of some officials in the backdrop of the prevailing tension between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. But it turned out to be an anti-climax. The prime minister, however, showed displeasure over the attitude of the federal defence secretary, who is now facing an inquiry. The secretary had stated earlier before the apex curt that the defence ministry had no control over the operations of armed forces. The prime minister interpreted it as a ‘state within state.’
The prime minister told the media representatives that the attack on Salala post in Mohmand Agency was referred to the parliamentary committee on national security immediately so that we could evolve new terms of engagement with Nato, Isaf and the United States since it was the question of national security. Similarly, the memo issue too was referred to the same committee although a retired US general, who has been involved in the so-called memo, has denied its authenticity.
The government and military are sticking to their guns on the question of memogate. The proceedings of the apex court and documents provided to the court show that there is no let-up in the tussle where the Army has contended that the memo is a reality and a threat to national security. Prime Minister Gilani was never named in it but he stands by his boss. The PM ruled out the possibility of early polls and claimed that no political party was getting impatient for early elections, including the ‘new revolutionists’.
The prime minister denied the impression that he was an obstinate child (ziddi bachha) and said that the government and prime minister could go but parliament, being a nascent institution, must be allowed to complete its tenure.
Gilani termed the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) as mature and positive political party. He talked high of the MQM leader Altaf Hussain and JUI leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman, who have supported the idea of a separate province for Seraikis. He was soft on all political forces but called the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) a bunch of opportunists. He ruled out holding an all parties conference (APC) to discuss the confusing political situation, saying all parties were united on national and security issues, hence there was no need for any such conference.
Prime Minister Gilani laughed off the query on the crying Federal Information Minister Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, saying these were the tears of joy. He also discussed the Nato report on the Salala attack, the establishment’s alleged support for Imran Khan, the Balochistan situation, threat from the opposition, Benazir assassination case and other political issues.
My comments: Now that PM is is saying things diametrically opposed to what he seemed to be saying less than a week ago.