Gen. Kiyani issues a warning to Zardari to clean up his mess!

[Asim Aquil]

Kayani's warning: Is it time for a coup in Pakistan?

PAKISTAN ARMY chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's warning to President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday (March 9) to set the house in order has once again raised the spectacle of an army coup in the neighbouring country.


Highly placed sources said that the Pak general is reported to have asked Zardari to clean up the mess in the country soon. He is also believed to have told him to resolve the political issues plaguing the country particularly the reinstatement of judges before March 16.

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the lawyers are going on a protest on that day demanding the reinstatement of judges removed by former President Pervez Musharraf.

Kayani's warning, sources said, comes in the wake of intense pressure put in by United States, which has asked the Pakistani army to control the situation in North Western Frontier Province.

Meanwhile, Kayani's warning has sent the strategic and political circles into a spin as not many believe in Zardari's ability to manage the situation. Pakistan is standing on the brink of disaster as two major political parties, PML (N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) cadres are fighting it out on the street.

Terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Taliban are challenging the might of the government throughout the country. Pakistan army has been forced many times in the recent past to call for peace and ceasefire, not only due to lack of strength but also due to the fact that its cadres are opposed ideologically to fight against brother Muslims.

The brazen attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in heart of Lahore also tells of the deteriorating law and order situation in the entire country.
Whether this attack was orchestrated by terrorists or by an external agency is debatable, but it sent across the message that no one is safe in that country.
Kayani's warning does not augur well for the nascent democratic government being lead by PPP chief. It seems that army generals as well the Americans have had enough of the political football being played by politicians.

Zardari can manage to save the day by taking some drastic measures that might include strong action against the terror groups as well bringing back Nawaz Sharif into the political mainstream.

If the Pakistan President fails to take this warning seriously then history might repeat in South Asia and army might come back to the corridors of power for the umpteenth time in the neighbouring country.

A lot of people are speculating a Kakar-like coup of the early 90s, when Nawaz Sharif and Ghulam Ishaq Khan kept dueling. The Army intervened, threw them both off the stage.

Kiyani won't come into power, but he'll hold fresh elections. People are giving this present government just 15 more days!

[araz]

It may be the best solution and a fresh election or even getting rifd of Zardari would sort most of the problems out.However, getting him to keep his finger out of the running might prove to be difficult.
Araz

[Patriot]

Yes, that would be great.If Kiyani can manage to throw both Nawaz and Zardari out of government and somehow get Imran Khan into power.We need to give chances to other people too but i think Kiyani will not take over in a coup style.

[Asim Aquil]

Originally Posted by saadahmed

Yes, that would be great.If Kiyani can manage to throw both Nawaz and Zardari out of government and somehow get Imran Khan into power.We need to give chances to other people too but i think Kiyani will not take over in a coup style.

This time round, Imran Khan would definitely win some seats. N-league would sweep the Punjab polls. Expect them to consolidate like 95% of the seats in Punjab. With that kind of power alone they can hold a majority in the national assembly!

I think a Kakar style coup would be accepted by most Pakistanis. Even internationally things wouldn't get too heated if elections are held immediately. I would've loved to see this government complete its term, though, like the last government did under Musharraf. But things are getting way too messy!

[Asim Aquil]

May I also add, so far only Indian media reporting this.

Please try to post some confirmation from more reliable sources.

[Bezerk]

What an interesting development. Finally Kiyani's taking a tough stance on the constant **** up's from Zardari. After all, There's a limit to everything. The people of Pakistan will welcome a change in the Government. And I'm talking about the common man, Not the 100Rs/hr paid workers of PPP.

[Stumper]

But than what other options are available for pakistan? .... Democracy is always best bet for civilization.

Sorry for my ignorance .. but apart from Zardari and shariff .. what other option is available for a democratic government?

[Asim Aquil]

Hehe, Kayani has just returned from America... Passing on the message? According to this report:

Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan

Winds of change swirl in Pakistan
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - Pakistan's deteriorating political situation has activated the previously very low profile Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani. He met President Asif Ali Zardari for the first time this week - actually twice - after returning from Washington, where he had met with senior officials.

As a result, a planned crackdown against opposition parties has been shelved. The Punjab Assembly, which was closed down this month after the High Court disqualified the chief minister of the state, Shahbaz Sharif, was reopened. It had been placed under governor's rule, that is, by the central government in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has also asserted his strength and advised the president, through parliament, to rescind an ordinance on mobile law courts. Zardari had issued a decree to establish mobile courts that would have the power to adjudicate on minor offences on the spot. Opposition parties claimed the courts would be used to target their activists, who plan a number of street protests in the coming weeks.

Among these are lawyers who plan a "long march" from March 12 to March 16 in their campaign for the restoration of the chief justice who was sacked by former military ruler president General Pervez Musharraf in November 2007.

Kiani's trip to Washington appears to have acted as a catalyst for change. Since taking over the military from Musharraf on November 28, 2007, Kiani, a former director of the Inter-Services Intelligence and director general of Military Operations, had kept his head down.

The ongoing strife in the country, with militants and al-Qaeda steadily gaining ground in the tribal areas, and the government busy settling scores with opposition parties and civil society, has compelled Washington and its prime contractor in the region, the Pakistan military, to rewrite the political scenario.

On Thursday, Kiani discussed the situation at a meeting with the corps commanders - the heads of the regional army groups - and shared Washington's concerns about governance in Pakistan.

One of these concerns relates to Zardari. He assumed the presidency last September as an "iron man", but in recent weeks he as been more subdued.

One reason could be a proclamation of the recently formed United Front of Mujahideen in Pakistan in the tribal areas which announced that Zardari was on its hit list - the only politician to be included.

However, he suffered a political defeat - directly as a result of the military's persuasion - when this week he lifted the ban on the Punjab Assembly and allowed it to meet. The majority of its members belong to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, arch foes of Zardari.

More humiliating though was the issue of the mobile courts. Premier Gillani advised the president that since parliament was in session, he had to withdraw the ordinance. In this instance, the prime minister's advice was binding, so the ordinance was canceled.

Zardari has also been upset because Gillani fired his national security adviser, Mahmood Ali Durrani, in January for acknowledging that the sole surviving gunman captured by India during November's terrorist attack on Mumbai was Pakistani. Durrani is close to Zardari.

This military intervention - and Gillani getting closer to the army - coincides with a drop in Zardari's popularity within his own Pakistan People's Party, the lead party in the ruling coalition. Zardari has been particularly outspoken - if not rude - towards some of parliament's members, including in his own cabinet. He is even in danger of losing control of the party as he is accused of surrounding himself with friends and associates, many unelected, to act as advisors in key areas.

The situation in Pakistan is fast becoming untenable. Although Kiani has become more active, neither the Americans nor the Pakistan army actually wants to change horses in mid-stream. Yet the country is becoming less and less governable under the present arrangement, and quick action is required.

This does not necessarily mean getting rid of Zardari, but he could well be forced to make further concessions to his political rival, former premier and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, by giving him a share of power. If Zardari does not do this, the military's hand could be forced.

Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@yahoo.com

[Asim Aquil]

Originally Posted by Stumper

But than what other options are available for pakistan? .... Democracy is always best bet for civilization.

Sorry for my ignorance .. but apart from Zardari and shariff .. what other option is available for a democratic government?

In Pakistan, the term of every government should be reduced to two years and about 4 terms should be allowed to each government instead of two.

That is a lot more suitable to Pakistani democracy than a 5 year term which is just not realistic since the Pakistani mindset changes every 2 years.

[Stumper]

Originally Posted by Bezerk

The people of Pakistan will welcome a change in the Government. And I'm talking about the common man, Not the 100Rs/hr paid workers of PPP.

Not really. Apart from the cost, your economy takes a hit due to uncertainty feature. FII's dont want such markets.

[Stumper]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

In Pakistan, the term of every government should be reduced to two years and about 4 terms should be allowed to each government instead of two.

That is a lot more suitable to Pakistani democracy than a 5 year term which is just not realistic since the Pakistani mindset changes every 2 years.

Maybe. But in india this would have led to dog fight with the new government (after 2 years) reversing the decision of the previous government!!

[Asim Aquil]

Originally Posted by Stumper

Not really. Apart from the cost, your economy takes a hit due to uncertainty feature. FII's dont want such markets.

They don't even want violence, political unrest and so on.

Anyway, its not the ideal solution, but lets see how things turn out. Mushahid Hussain was talking about it yesterday that change will come since the Establishment of Pakistan is now once again active. When we say establishment almost always it means Army. The Army is concerned that things are going from bad to worse. I mean nothing else, India might attack seeing an opportunity of a Pakistan in turmoil.

I think something big must've happened to trigger such a change in Kayani's stance since he was very reluctant to even suggest this option. Of course this is still an Indian news leak, nothing from Pakistan. Mostly coz its 12th Rabi ul Awwal today and its an off day so perhaps news sources are generally slow.

[Asim Aquil]

Originally Posted by Stumper

Maybe. But in india this would have led to dog fight with the new government (after 2 years) reversing the decision of the previous government!!

Maybe its not viable in Pakistan either, but someone should at least do some sort of study on the impact of a reduced term. At least the change in government would happen in a processed manner.

[Stumper]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

The Army is concerned that things are going from bad to worse. I mean nothing else, India might attack seeing an opportunity of a Pakistan in turmoil.

Nah ...with Americans present in the region, we cant dare. But yes you will hear a louder rhetoric from my stupid politician's.

[tamir]

Gen Kayani might get rid of Zardari and Nawaz..... again. The problem is that these people keep coming back or should I say... they are let back.

An average person Pakistan would rot in Jail for his life with cases like Zardari's and other politicians. Not advocating for the restoration of the judges Musharraf dismissed... but we need a strong judiciary.