Islamabad, Jan 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday asserted that he does not need to take a trust vote in parliament.

Gilani’s remark while addressing the national assembly came amid growing tension between the political leadership and the military.

Gilani Wednesday asserted his authority by dismissing Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general widely seen to be close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

He also accused the army chief and the ISI chief, General Shuja Pasha, of violating the constitution by submitting illegal replies to the Supreme Court in the case over a memo sent to Washington that said President Asif Ali Zardari had feared a military take over following last year’s killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan’s powerful army warned Wednesday that the prime minister’s “critical comments” of the military would have “serious ramifications” with “potentially grievous consequences for the country”.

The public criticism of the prime minister by the army and Gilani’s counter moves quickly fuelled speculation of a possible military takeover.