Tension between Pakistan civil government and military is not likely to go down any time soon. On one side where Military doesn’t seem to have faith on government, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani sacked defence secretary, retired Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, on Jan 11 with an allegation of "gross misconduct and illegal action which created misunderstanding between institutions”. Next day Army announced it would not acknowledge Nargis Sethi as Lodhi's replacement. An army officer also made it clear that they would not react violently to the appointment of new defence secretary but at the same time, would not cooperate with the secretary.
Lodhi was the most senior civil servant responsible for military affairs, who acted as the bridge between government and military. Lodhi’s suspension came amid Kayani’s warning to Gilani against allegations leveled against him and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha. Gilani alleged that affidavit filing by army and ISI chief in Supreme Court on memo scandal without the permission of government was unconstitutional.
{What is Memogate scandal? There are allegation that Hussain Haqqani, close aide of Zardari and former Pakistani Ambassador to US had sent a memo to the former U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Mike Mullen in May, seeking US intervention in preventing a coup in Pakistan after the Abbottabad operation. Haqqani had to resign amid controversies. Probe has already started to identify reason and role of Zardari in the memo scandal.}
In response, Kayani warned Gilani that his statement would have dire consequences on the country and he needs to clarify or withdraw his statement. Kayani’s warning lead to sacking of Defence Secretary Lodhi which further worsened the tussle.
Gilani was summoned on January 19 in the case of contempt for not obeying an order to reopen corruption probes into the country's president. Supreme Court wants Gilani to write to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption case against Zardari which government had refused to earlier. He got two weeks breather from Supreme Court as he presented before court. “Zardari has complete immunity inside and outside the country. It will not give a good message to proceed against a President elected by two-thirds majority. A president could not be handed over to foreign courts,'' Gilani told the court, referring to approaching Swiss authorities. Controversies have left several questions unanswered. Will same Government continue to rule? Will it lead to early elections? Is Military coup an option?
{What is Memogate scandal? There are allegation that Hussain Haqqani, close aide of Zardari and former Pakistani Ambassador to US had sent a memo to the former U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Mike Mullen in May, seeking US intervention in preventing a coup in Pakistan after the Abbottabad operation. Haqqani had to resign amid controversies. Probe has already started to identify reason and role of Zardari in the memo scandal.}
In response, Kayani warned Gilani that his statement would have dire consequences on the country and he needs to clarify or withdraw his statement. Kayani’s warning lead to sacking of Defence Secretary Lodhi which further worsened the tussle.
Gilani was summoned on January 19 in the case of contempt for not obeying an order to reopen corruption probes into the country's president. Supreme Court wants Gilani to write to Swiss authorities to reopen corruption case against Zardari which government had refused to earlier. He got two weeks breather from Supreme Court as he presented before court. “Zardari has complete immunity inside and outside the country. It will not give a good message to proceed against a President elected by two-thirds majority. A president could not be handed over to foreign courts,'' Gilani told the court, referring to approaching Swiss authorities. Controversies have left several questions unanswered. Will same Government continue to rule? Will it lead to early elections? Is Military coup an option?