Pakistan : Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Rep Pakistan 7

[Arun_S]

[center][size="2"]Night[/size][color="#808080"]Watch[/color][/center][url="http://www.kforcegov.com/Services/IS/NightWatch/NightWatch_11000254.aspx"]http://www.kforcegov...h_11000254.aspx[/url]

For the night of 22 December 2011



Pakistan: Civil-military crisis evolving. In a written reply to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Pakistani Defense Ministry said it has no control over any operation conducted by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate or the Pakistan Army, according to unnamed supposedly knowledgeable sources. The ministry said it only handles administrative affairs for the ISI and the Army and, therefore, it was not in a position to answer or explain anything on behalf of the Pakistan Army.







Prime Minister Gilani reminded the Army that it, like all state institutions, answers to the parliament and the prime minister. He added that the Army is under the Defense Ministry and could not consider itself its own state within Pakistan without accepting lawmakers' sovereignty. Gilani said there are conspirators plotting against the elected government and that he would fight for Pakistani rights whether he remains in the government or not.







Pakistan's Army wants President Zardari to leave office through legal means rather than a coup, unidentified military sources said on 22 December. They added that no military coup is being planned because it would be opposed by the people. It also would have national and international consequences and the government's mistakes already create discontent. Any action taken must come from the Supreme Court rather than the military.







Comment: Cumulatively, the reports indicate that the civilian government is now in an open struggle with the Army, which apparently declines to recognize civilian control. The government apparently fears the Army has become a sovereign entity within the state of Pakistan.



Gilani's comment implies that he expects to be removed from office. The reference to the Supreme Court is that the Court found several years ago that Zardari's presidency is illegal, but was dissuaded from taking futher action. Today's statements, assuming they are accurate, indicate the Army leadership now supports the court's pursuit of its earlier finding.