ISLAMABAD, Dec 23, (RTRS): Pakistan’s powerful military pledged on Friday to continue supporting democracy, reiterating it was not planning a takeover as tensions grew over a controversial memo alleging an army plot to seize power.
At the same time, President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman said he had resumed duties after returning from medical treatment in Dubai and has no intention of leaving over the scandal, which has undermined the already deeply unpopular president.
An army statement quoted military chief General Ashfaq Kayani as telling troops the military will continue to support democracy in Pakistan and that any talk the army was planning to take over was “speculation”.
Many Pakistanis wonder whether Zardari can survive the crisis, and speculation has been growing that the powerful generals will try to oust him somehow. The tension is a worrying sign for the region and for Pakistan’s uneasy relationship with its key ally, the United States.
There are several scenarios under which Zardari could be forced out. The military does not want to be seen interfering in politics.
But it could use its vast influence to isolate Zardari, or offer him an honourable exit by guaranteeing he won’t face prosecution on long-standing corruption charges.
Alternatively, Supreme Court justices, seen by some as anti-Zardari, could move against him in the memo case.
The United States wants political stability in Pakistan so that Islamabad can help fight militancy and aid Western efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
Zardari, known for his resilience in the face of pressure, plans to stay in Pakistan, said his spokesman.
“He is performing his usual work. There is no truth in the reports that the president will leave the country after the 27th of December. He is here in Pakistan and he has come to stay,” Farhatullah Babar told Reuters.
Zardari is expected to address a rally on Dec 27 on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
On Friday, Zardari chaired a meeting with senior leaders of his Pakistan People’s Party, and also met coalition partners.
Pakistan’s top judge earlier moved to allay fears of a possible military coup as tensions rose.
“There is no question of a takeover. Gone are the days when people used to get validation for unconstitutional steps from the courts,” Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said.
The Supreme Court is looking into a petition demanding an inquiry into what has become known as “memogate”. Kayani, arguably the most powerful man in the country, has called for an investigation into who may have been behind the memo.
Newspaper editorials on Friday highlighted unease in the nuclear-armed South Asian nation, predicting a showdown between Zardari and his allies and the military, which is so influential it has been described as a state within a state.
“A spectre is haunting Pakistan — the spectre of a clash between the army and the government that threatens to turn fatal,” said an editorial in the News.