No intention to sack Kayani, Pasha; Attorney General tells Supreme Court

Amid a tense standoff between Pakistan’s civilian-military leadership, Attorney General Maulvi Anwar ul Haq told the Supreme Court on Friday that the government had no intentions of sacking Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Ahmed Shuja Pasha for their unconstitutional and illegal replies in the memogate case.

“The government has no plans to take such action,” the AG told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry during the hearing of a petition filed by Fazal Karim Butt Advocate against a possible removal of chiefs of the army and ISI. The AG said that the army chief and DG ISI would complete their contractual terms.

The petitioner was of the view that the government could remove the military’s top officials in Khalid Lodhi. He requested the court to intervene and restrain the government from such move.

The applicant also claimed the government has harassed and blackmailed the top brass of the army through their public statements, which have repeatedly surfaced in the print and electronic media. He also attached newspaper reports to his application.

One excerpt reads: “Memogate has become another NRO for the regime, which is smartly following the same old strategy: target the one who does not toe your line and get him cornered.”

Though the AGP orally informed the apex court that the government had no intention to remove both the officials, however, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry directed him to submit a written reply after consultation with the government within two weeks.

“It is an important matter of our country and it will suppress all the rumours if the government submits its stance in written form,” the chief justice observed. In his remarks, he said relations between the constitutional institutions of the country should be improved.

During the hearing, the AG briefed the court that petition was not based on facts. “It is only based on rumours, speculations and media reports,” he maintained.

The AG sought time to submit governments’ assurance regarding the case. The court granted two weeks time for submitting written reply and adjourned the case.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jan 21 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.