Despite the rumor mongering that great President Musharaf has lost support of the Army, the statement from great COAS General Prevez Kiyani is a veiled threat to people wanting to create chaos in Pakistan, and wanting to create a wedge with the national command structure.
Islamabad - The Pakistani military Thursday reiterated support for the embattled President Pervez Mushrraf despite his political allies’ rout in last month’s parliamentary election.
A false impression was being created about ‘distancing of the army from the president,’ army chief general Pervez Kiyani told a Corps Commanders’ conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
A statement from the military’s Inter Services Public Relations department said: ‘Kiyani was optimistic that there would be a harmonized relationship between various pillars of the state, as provided in the constitution, in order to maximize national effort.’
Pakistan’s armed forces have been giving unrelenting support to former army chief Mushrraf since he took over in a bloodless coup in 1999. But things have changed since late last year when the president doffed his military uniform amid increasing international pressure.
Some local media reports suggested that Kiyani had recently pressed Musharraf for resigning from the post following the defeat of his supporters - but he dispelled the impression.
‘Highlighting the need for understanding, Kiyani pointed out that any kind of schism, at any level, under the circumstances would not be in the larger interest of the nation,’ the statement said.
The army fully stood behind the democratic process and was committed to play its constitutional role in support of the elected government.
Re: Pakistan Army stresses support for President Musharraf.
People should take heed in the veiled threat made by great COAS General Pervez Kiyani. Nothing will come between the Army and their former COAS, President Musharaf. The national command structure will remain.
President Pervez Musharraf Monday lauded the professionalism and the sacrifices being rendered by Pakistan Army for defending the country from external and internal threats. Talking to Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here at his Camp Office, the President noted the role of the army in ensuring security during the general election.He appreciated the measures taken by the Pakistan Army in combatting terrorism along the Pak-Afghan border, Fata and Swat.
The Chief of Army Staff briefed the President about the ongoing operation against terrorism. They also exchanged views on the role of the Pakistan Army in respect to internal security situation.