Pak army chief gets tough, asks Zardari, Gilani to act on corruption

[Lankan Ranger]

Pak army chief gets tough, asks Zardari, Gilani to act on corruption

Amid speculation of a military takeover in Pakistan, its powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has bluntly told the civilian leadership to put its house in order through measures like a crackdown on corruption and improvement in its "faltering" response to the devastating floods.

Kayani "conveyed a plain message" to President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani in their recent meeting that the civilian leadership "must put its house in order," a senior Pakistani security official was quoted as saying by The Washington Post.

He forcefully demanded that the government crackdown on corruption, take control of the plummeting economy and improve its faltering response to the flood disaster.

Kayani bluntly stated military concerns during the meeting which took place on Monday, the report said.

However, the paper said, the US and Pakistani officials dismissed speculation that the military, which has ruled Pakistan for much of its 63-year history, is contemplating a takeover.

"We don't have the appetite, the resources or the intent to meddle in politics," an unnamed Pakistani military official was quoted as saying. "In our past experience, it hasn't worked. It only worsens the situation further."

In Washington, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters yesterday that he had not heard anything like that from Kayani when he spoke to him last.

"In the conversation I had with him the other day, I didn't speak at all about that, the issue, and I've certainly
seen the reports," he said.

"I haven't had any recent communications with him about that at all, although I did speak to him a couple of days ago specifically about the cross-border -- the stories that were out with cross border, which was a self-defence operation that took place very close to the border, and it's certainly not the first time that that's ever happened," Mullen said in response to a question on NATO air attacks in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, CIA Director Leon Panetta met ISI Chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha in Islamabad yesterday. The meeting assumes significance in view of the unearthing of an al-Qaeda plot in which the terrorists were planning a Mumbai-type terrorist attacks in several European countries.

In September, the CIA had dramatically escalated strikes into Pakistan from unmanned drone aircraft, targeting al-Qaeda sanctuaries, as well as the Afghan-Taliban and the allied Haqqani network that fight inside Afghanistan.

The increase in drone attacks is attributed to these fresh intelligence reports.

Pak army chief gets tough, asks Zardari, Gilani to act on corruption - Hindustan Times

 

[fatman17]

so the general wants the 'most corrupt' to catch / nab the 'less corrupt' - this is not going anywhere.

 

[Super Falcon]

Well Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was unable to stop Zardari from his hooby of corruption how can COAS can do this no way in every drop of zardari Blood is only you get corupption

 

[Tayyab1796]

^^ its in his DNA.

 

[somebozo]

Enough of exploitation over this "shaheed" conspiracy..BB or Ghaddri both are equally corrupt and incompetent!

 

[mjnaushad]

Well the news is coming from Hindustan times quoting Washington post quoting An unnamed military senior officer. Zardari and co are corrupt but i dont think kiyani wants to get into politics right now.

 

[blain2]

The Army has gone down this road before. Gen Kakar, Gen Nawaz, Gen Karamat and Gen Musharraf were a few who had problems with government corruption but the fact is that Pakistan's democratic governments owe a lot of people a lot so people ill-suited for the job are politically assigned resulting in sub-optimal performance, cronyism and corruption.

Gen Kayani's ask will go by the wayside as have all others by previous Army chiefs. This is the nature of the democratic beast in Pakistan. Corruption and democracy in Pakistan unfortunately go hand-in-hand.

This is not to suggest that democracy should be done away with, only that this is what the country has to suffer through to attain something decent down the road (or at least one can hope and pray for this).

 

[third eye]

The Army has gone down this road before. Gen Kakar, Gen Nawaz, Gen Karamat and Gen Musharraf were a few who had problems with government corruption but the fact is that Pakistan's democratic governments owe a lot of people a lot so people ill-suited for the job are politically assigned resulting in sub-optimal performance, cronyism and corruption.

Gen Kayani's ask will go by the wayside as have all others by previous Army chiefs. This is the nature of the democratic beast in Pakistan. Corruption and democracy in Pakistan unfortunately go hand-in-hand.

This is not to suggest that democracy should be done away with, only that this is what the country has to suffer through to attain something decent down the road (or at least one can hope and pray for this).

Just for the record is it within the law in Pak for the Army Chief to such demands on the Govt ?

 

[TechLahore]

Just for the record is it within the law in Pak for the Army Chief to such demands on the Govt ?

The COAS can advise the PM on matters of national security. Also, the Army has been called out to help with domestic issues, such as flood relief, and to that extent, the COAS is empowered to provide feedback, input and advice to the PM.

If the COAS finds ministers acting in incompetent ways, getting in the way of the Army relief or security efforts, creating an environment that - through incompetence or corruption - compromises any of the efforts the government has tasked the army with, then yes, the COAS is free to make his opinion known to the PM. In fact, he is duty bound to do so.

I will add that the contents of closed door discussions are reproduced in the press only as hearsay or by relying on questionable "sources". There is no transcript of the discussion, or clear validation of these news stories from the players involved. Therefore, one has to be careful before accepting these reports as gospel.

 

[Coltsfan]

Just for the record is it within the law in Pak for the Army Chief to such demands on the Govt ?

Pakistani armed forces believe they own the country, and can depose any govt. overnight (as has been done numerous times before)

So, no wonder they act as if they are above law. Corruption is a very convenient excuse.

Let the countdown to next coup begin

 

[Areesh]

Pakistani armed forces believe they own the country, and can depose any govt. overnight (as has been done numerous times before)

So, no wonder they act as if they are above law. Corruption is a very convenient excuse.

Let the countdown to next coup begin

And if Army asks the corrupt, inept govt to take action against corruption than it is a coup. So according to you army should let the govt to loot the Pakistani state with both hands and demolish the economy of Pakistan. And army should sit aside like spectators. Sorry you are very far from truth and very illogical.

 

[Coltsfan]

And if Army asks the corrupt, inept govt to take action against corruption than it is a coup. So according to you army should let the govt to loot the Pakistani state with both hands and demolish the economy of Pakistan. And army should sit aside like spectators. Sorry you are very far from truth and very illogical.

Perhaps I was incorrect and illogical.

However, could you please point out the clause in Pakistani constitution that allows Pakistani army depose Civilian authority if govt is corrupt?

I am sure there is some provision of usurping democratically elected govt by army in the constitution, since it happens so frequently.

Or, is it that to chide PM and tell him to get his act together is part of duty of the Pakistani army chief?

BTW, who appoints the chief of army in Pakistan?

 

[Areesh]

Perhaps I was incorrect and illogical.

However, could you please point out the clause in Pakistani constitution that allows Pakistani army depose Civilian authority if govt is corrupt?

I am sure there is some provision of usurping democratically elected govt by army in the constitution, since it happens so frequently.

Or, is it that to chide PM and tell him to get his act together is part of duty of the Pakistani army chief?

BTW, who appoints the chief of army in Pakistan?

Why are you talking about coup against the democrazy? Where is it said that Army is going to take over the govt and throw the thugs out of the govt. It simply says that the army chief wants the govt to take action against the corrupt ministers. And their is nothing wrong in that. Now tell me where that refers to any future coup against democrazy. As far as constitution is concern the present democrazy itself clearly violated constitution of Pakistan several times in it's tenure of 2 and a half years. The presedent Ghaddari holds several positions at the same time. He is the president of Pakistan, he is the Vice Chairman of PPP and he is also a business man who uses his position as president for his benefits in business. Now is it allowed in constitution?

So stop making lame arguments please since Pakistan is suffering too much of present democrazy.

 

[Coltsfan]

Why are you talking about coup against the democrazy? Where is it said that Army is going to take over the govt and throw the thugs out of the govt. It simply says that the army chief wants the govt to take action against the corrupt ministers. And their is nothing wrong in that. Now tell me where that refers to any future coup against democrazy.

It is called a veiled threat, Kayani is not so stupid as to give out an open threat in public. Go back and read history of your country and you will find out how many times it has actually happened before.

As far as constitution is concern the present democrazy itself clearly violated constitution of Pakistan several times in it's tenure of 2 and a half years. The presedent Ghaddari holds several positions at the same time. He is the president of Pakistan, he is the Vice Chairman of PPP and he is also a business man who uses his position as president for his benefits in business. Now is it allowed in constitution?

So his govt will be deposed in next elections, this is how democracy is supposed to work.

So stop making lame arguments please since Pakistan is suffering too much of present democrazy.

This is what happens when a nation has half-baked immature democratic institutions. Citizens can not have faith in elected govt.


PS: You didn't answer my question as to who appoints Pak Army Chief? Is he appointed by the govt or the army selects one of their own by themselves?

If he is appointed by the govt, then this situation is like a servant telling his owner to run the business properly

 

[Areesh]

It is called a veiled threat, Kayani is not so stupid as to give out an open threat in public. Go back and read history of your country and you will find out how many times it has actually happened before.

Ah a speculation and being an Indian you are using this speculation to malign PA.

However, the paper said, the US and Pakistani officials dismissed speculation that the military, which has ruled Pakistan for much of its 63-year history, is contemplating a takeover.

"We don't have the appetite, the resources or the intent to meddle in politics," an unnamed Pakistani military official was quoted as saying. "In our past experience, it hasn't worked. It only worsens the situation further."

Talk to me after the coup happens.

So his govt will be deposed in next elections, this is how democracy is supposed to work.

Sorry couldn't allow a thugs to rob the country for five years and than let the other thug to take his turn to loot the country for another five years. Sorry this might be how democrazy works but it is again illogical.

Citizens can not have faith in elected govt.

Being elected doesn't make someone noble or untouchable.

You didn't answer my question as to who appoints Pak Army Chief? Is he appointed by the govt or the army selects one of their own by themselves?

He is also the one directly responsible for the national security of Pakistan and this robbery of ghaddari and the gang is directly related with national security of Pakistan. As I said army can't sit and watch and let the thugs loot Pakistan at this very sensitive point of time.