60 second phone call that Pakistan is talking about
December 20th, 2011 - 12:42 pm ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Dec 20 (IANS) The barely minute long phone conversation on Dec 16 between Pakistan’s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and President Asif Ali Zardari, who was then in Dubai, triggered massive speculation here, forcing authorities to clarify that there was nothing to it.
Kayani, spoke “by chance” with Zardari Dec 16. It was their first conversation since the president abruptly flew out of the country to Dubai Dec 6. Zardari returned back to the country late Sunday night.
The conversation took place a day after Kayani told the Supreme Court that a secret memo, which said Zardari feared a military coup, had indeed been sent to Washington.
Inter Services Public Relations Monday issued a statement, saying that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had a meeting with Kayani during which he “received a telephonic call from the president by chance”.
“When I informed the president that I was having a meeting with the army chief, the president asked me to convey his regards to General Kayani. On this, the (army chief) showed his desire to speak to the president,” the statement quoted Gilani as saying.
The telephonic conversation between Zardari and Kayani lasted approximately one minute in which he enquired about the health of the president. “Hence, attributing anything more to this telephonic conversation is unfounded and unnecessary.”
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- Zardari leaves a tense Pakistan for a day in Dubai (Second Lead) - Jan 12, 2012
- Zardari leaves Pakistan, goes to Dubai - Jan 12, 2012
- Zardari leaves for Dubai (Lead) - Jan 12, 2012
- I am only answerable to parliament: Gilani - Jan 16, 2012
- `Gilani didn't seek Britain's help to avert coup' - Jan 14, 2012
- No threat to democracy in Pakistan: Gilani - Jan 29, 2012
- Kayani meets Zardari - Jan 14, 2012
- Gilani criticised over Laden comment - Dec 25, 2011
- Zardari back in Pakistan from Dubai - Jan 13, 2012
- Gilani sacks defence secretary, takes on army (Intro Night Lead) - Jan 12, 2012
- Pakistan Army may not cooperate with new defence secretary - Jan 12, 2012
Tags: army chief, ashfaq, asif ali zardari, authorities, chief general, desire, gilani, inter services, islamabad, kayani, military coup, pakistan, parvez, phone call, phone conversation, prime minister, public relations, secret memo, speculation, telephonic conversation