Pakistan’s prime minister denies rift with army over ‘memogate’

alarabiya.net

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has dismissed rumors of a rift with the country’s powerful army over a secret memo that sought U.S. intervention to prevent a feared military coup.

Tensions between the army and government appeared to have soared in recent days as intelligence chiefs demanded an inquiry into the scandal that threatens to implicate President Asif Ali Zardari, who is abroad following an illness.

The demand came after the political opposition asked the Supreme Court to find out who was behind the memo that sought U.S. help to prevent a coup and curb the power of the military after Osama bin Laden was killed in May.

But Gilani in a late Friday meeting at his residence with army chief Ashfaq Kayani “strongly rejected the notion”, his office said in a statement.

Gilani “reiterated that the Government of Pakistan and its institutions remained committed to their constitutional roles and obligations to a democratic and prosperous future for Pakistan,” it said.

“The Prime Minister and army chief underscored the significance of national unity to address the challenges faced by the nation.”

In separate responses submitted to the court late Thursday, the attorney general said the petition should be dropped, but Kayani said the memo impacted “national security”.

“Therefore, there may be a need to fully examine the facts and circumstances leading to the conception and issuance of the memo,” the army chief said in his response, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

The move is significant in a country where the military has staged four coups and remains the chief power broker. It may also increase uncertainty over how long Zardari remains in office.

The existence of the document came to light when American-Pakistani businessman Mansoor Ijaz wrote in the Financial Times that Zardari feared the military might overthrow his government.

Ijaz accused Husain Haqqani, the president’s close aide and ambassador to Washington, of crafting the memo with Zardari’s support.

Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif then filed a petition in the Supreme Court on December 1, demanding to know who was responsible for the document delivered to the then U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Amiral Mike Mullen, on May 10.