Extension in COAS tenure without pressure: Gilani

ISLAMABAD Seeing no threat to the system Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that all the stakeholders - the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice and the Army Chief - are in a secure position till 2013. Talking to media persons here at Sihala, where he visited Pakistan Sweet Home on Friday, the Prime Minister said that all the institutions should work within their defined constitutional ambit for strengthening overall democratic set-up in the country. To a question Premier Gilani said that the extension to the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was given till 2013 to ensure continuity of policies. He further said that Pakistan was at the centre stage of war against terror and in the given situation the continuity and consistency in command was vital for achieving desired results. He said the announcement of three years extension in the service of the COAS was made to bring further stability and to remove any misunderstandings. However, he replied in negative when asked about any external pressure in granting of extension to the Army Chief. To a question about the confusion engulfing the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement and the diverse statements of the Ministers, the Prime Minister said that APTTA was yet to be approved by the Federal Cabinet, adding that he had constituted a committee comprising Federal Ministers for Finance, Foreign Affairs and Commerce to take into confidence the political parties into confidence on the progress so far made on APTTA. The Committee would also brief the National Security Committee of the Parliament on it. To a question about the fake degree holders, the Prime Minister said in categorical terms that Government would not support anyone carrying fake degree and added that he himself had asked the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission to follow the rules while dealing with the issue of fake degrees. When asked about the status of his Advisor on Information Technology Latif Khosa, he said he did not resign and was still working in the same position, adding that there was just misperception in the media on this issue. He said the Advisor could not involve in decision-making and could only advise, therefore he would have to work according to rules and regulations.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt