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Pakistan army decides to support judiciary against Govt: Daily

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 13, IRNA -- Pakistan army has decided to throw its weight behind Supreme Court against the government, a media report said on Friday.

Daily ‘Express Tribune’ reported that Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in a corps commander’s unannounced session took the decision.

The army chief held consultations with corps commanders and principal staff officers to discuss the evolving situation at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi – meetings for which there was no official statement from army.

The report said the military has decided that it will stand behind the Supreme Court, which has already warned the government that it could disqualify the prime minister if the government failed to take action on its verdict by January 16.

Gen Kayani, according to one source, briefed his commanders about his strong worded reaction to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s allegations in an interview that he and Inter Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha had acted unconstitutionally by submitting their replies in the Supreme Court on the memo case without going through the stipulated procedure.

“There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has levelled against COAS (Army Chief) and DG, ISI, and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the Constitution. This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country,” the military’s statement said.

The army will certainly consider assisting the judiciary if help was sought to implement the court’s decision, a source said.

Legal experts believe that the Supreme Court can invoke Article 190 of the Constitution to ensure implementation of its verdict. The Article says that “all executive and judicial authorities in Pakistan shall act in aid of the Supreme Court.”

**1771
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30763636