All those who wanted to take over should now face treason charges.
Kayani snubs call for military takeover
Umar Cheema
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is said to have snubbed a few participants of the last Corps Commanders’ meeting who had argued that the army takeover had become inevitable in the prevailing situation as the country was fast descending into chaos because of the failure of the political leadership.
The discussion on this aspect is believed to have taken place in the Corps Commanders’ meeting held on September 8 and significantly the ISPR issued no press release at the end of the meeting.
However, a senior military official denied the reports saying they are not true.
According to informed sources, quite a few participants of the meeting thought a military takeover was the only way to steer the country out of the multiple crisis, as the political leadership has failed the masses.
But Gen Kayani, together with some others, urged restraint and patience, saying the civilian government should be given more time to tackle the burning issues.
As no press release was issued after the meeting it created confusion, as the decision to issue no handout was unprecedented. However, the probing journalists were told through military sources that it was done with a view to avoiding any criticism of the army for being overtly vocal on the Karachi situation.
Incidentally, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, during a visit to Karachi, said that if the government failed to deliver, others would take over - an oblique reference to the army.
President Asif Ali Zardari also thought it wise to issue a statement advising his rival Nawaz Sharif to remain respectful to the armed forces instead of making them controversial.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, during the hearing of the Karachi suo moto case, also urged the civilian government to deliver and not give excuses to the khakis for a takeover.
The men in uniform have always used the breakdown in law and order as an excuse to send democratic governments packing, the chief justice had said, warning a seemingly clueless democratic government to put its act together and secure Karachi.
“We have closed the door on military intervention but at the same time democracy has to deliver while adhering to the Constitution,” Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had said.