On a day of fast-paced developments that set the stage for an open confrontation, the Army issued a terse statement against the Prime Minister, saying his allegations against the Army and ISI chiefs had "very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country".
In
another move, the Army brought in Brigadier Sarfaraz Ali as the new
commander of a Rawalpindi-based army unit that has traditionally played a
vital role in military coups.
Gilani
told reporters late in Wednesday night that Army Chief Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani had spoken to him before the statement was issued.
The
Prime Minister defended his decision to dismiss Defence Secretary Lt
Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, who is considered close to Kayani, saying
the top defence official had violated rules of business and had to go.
He also rejected murmurs of any threat to democracy, which he said was Pakistan's "destiny" now.
The
unusually-strong Army rebuff came two days after Gilani told a
state-run Chinese portal that Kayani and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja
Pasha had acted in an "unconstitutional and illegal" manner by filing
affidavits on the memo issue in the Supreme Court without obtaining the
Government's prior permission.
"There
can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime
minister has levelled against COAS and DG ISI (army chief and spy chief)
and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the
constitution of the country," the army statement said.
Analysts
have projected three scenarios that can emerge from the situation under
which Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari steps down and announces
early polls, the ruling PPP replaces Gilani as Prime Minister or Kayani
spearheads a military takeover.
Hours
after he fired the Defence Secretary over the affidavit row, Gilani
defended Lodhi's the move, telling reporters that it was done only after
hearing the other side. Gilani sacked the Defence Secretary with
immediate effect for "gross misconduct and illegal action", a statement
issued by the Prime Minister's Office said. Action was taken against
Lodhi "for creating misunderstanding between the state institutions", it
said.
Cabinet
Secretary Nargis Sethi, known to be close to Gilani, was given
additional charge of the post of Defence Secretary, the statement said.
The
government had recently served a show cause notice to Lodhi after he
filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court that contended the civilian
administration had no control over the operational matters of the army
and ISI.
He further stated in the affidavit that the government had only limited administrative control of the army and ISI.
Speaking
to the media, the Prime Minister said the Senate elections will be held
on time and democracy was there to stay in Pakistan.
"Democracy
is Pakistan's destiny now and all institutions will function under the
government," he said, while also making it clear that his government had
nothing against "anybody". "... we were left with no choice (but to
dismiss the Defence Secretary) because he did not follow the rules of
business," Gilani said as he was bombarded with questions.
Kayani,
on his part, convened a meeting with his key military aides at the
General Headquarters and is expected to review the situation with his
Corps Commanders on Thursday.
The
beleaguered Gilani government is already on a collision course with the
judiciary with the Supreme Court warning that action could be taken
against both the President and the Prime Minister for failing to act on a
court order to reopen corruption case against President Asif Ali
Zardari.
Earlier, Zardari refuted reports that he had offered to resign at a meeting of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its allies.
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