ISLAMABAD: It appears the turn of the year will not witness a coup d’état, though there has been much coup de théâtre.
On Friday, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani categorically denied rampant speculation that the military is planning to oust the civilian government, calling the rumours ‘misleading’ and an attempt to divert focus from the ‘real issues’ at hand.
His unprecedented remarks came just a day after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani launched a rare public attack on the army, accusing ‘conspirators’ of plotting to bring down his government. Kayani made the statements during a visit to forward posts in Mohmand and Kurram agencies on Thursday – but his comments were released by the military 24 hours later.
The army chief unambiguously silenced talk of a coup. He said that the Pakistan Army had and will continue to support the democratic process in the country. “The army is fully cognisant of its constitutional obligations and responsibilities,” he insisted.