Pakistan Army is pro-democracy, assures Gilani
December 18th, 2011 - 12:35 pm ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Dec 18 (IANS) Rejecting the notion of any clash between the government and army or judiciary, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the army as well as the judiciary are pro-democracy.
His comments came after army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani told the Supreme Court that a secret memo had indeed been sent to Washington that said President Asif Ali Zardari feared a military coup.
Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had revealed about the secret memo, leading to the resignation of Pakistan’s envoy to the US Hussain Haqqani. Zardari had feared a military coup after the May 2 killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad and had appealed for US help, according to the memo. Coup rumours resurfaced strongly following the abrupt departure of Zardari to Dubai over a heart ailment Dec 6.
Gilani Saturday expressed his confidence that both the government and army were pro-democracy and did not want derailment of the system.
“Both the army and judiciary are pro-democracy and I am confident that they do not want derailment of system, as it takes years to put the system back on rail,” Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Gilani as saying.
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- Secret memo exists, says Pakistan Army chief - Dec 16, 2011
- No threat of military coup: Gilani - Dec 02, 2011
- Memo scandal: Court dismisses plea against Mansoor Ijaz - Jan 18, 2012
- Zardari, Gilani, Kayani discuss secret memo to US - Nov 17, 2011
- No military takeover in Pakistan, says General Kayani (Lead) - Dec 23, 2011
- No threat to democracy, assures Pakistan Army chief - Dec 23, 2011
- Ijaz sticks to his coup claim in testimony from London (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- BlackBerry phones of Haqqani, Ijaz to be tested - May 10, 2012
- No threat to democracy in Pakistan: Gilani - Jan 29, 2012
- 'Pakistan spy chief had got nod to sack Zardari' - Dec 15, 2011
- 60 second phone call that Pakistan is talking about - Dec 20, 2011
- Zardari instucted Haqqani on memo: Ijaz - Feb 23, 2012
- Mullen confirms Zardari feared military coup - Nov 17, 2011
- I am only answerable to parliament: Gilani - Jan 16, 2012
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