KARACHI:
President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday downplayed the apparent tiff
between the army and the government, saying that prime minister will
handle the situation once he returns from China after attending the 2014
Boao Forum for Asia.
“I know Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s mind. He will manage the situation. He will not allow any of the differences to magnify,” President Mamnoon told The News in an interview at the State Guest House — his abode in Karachi.
“The situation is certainly not grave as being painted by the media. An unnecessary hype has been created... the media should play a responsible role,” said the president while urging national unity and cohesion.
Hussain, the supreme commander of the Pakistani armed forces by virtue of his office, claimed that the army chief Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif remain on the same page on all the important national issues. “I have exchanged views with the top army leaders, including the army chief, in recent days. The army continues to play a positive role and backs democracy,” he said.
Earlier this week, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, in a first of its kind statement, warned detractors against undermining the institution of the armed forces. “The Pakistan Army upholds the sanctity of all institutions and will resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride,” the army chief had said on Monday while visiting commandoes at their base near Tarbela. General Sharif’s remarks created an uproar and triggered speculations that ties between the civil and military leadership remain strained over the handling of former army chief Pervez Musharraf’s trial on treason charges and the government’s initiative of holding talks with the local Taliban responsible for the killing of thousands of civilians and security personnel.
However, President Mamnoon believed that an unnecessary controversy had been generated out of the army chief’s remarks. “I agree that some statements were not needed and could have been avoided,” said Mamnoon in an apparent reference to the derogatory remarks made against Musharraf by Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The prime minister had categorically told his party leaders not to issue any statements against Pervez Musharraf as his case is in the court and remains sub judice, said Mamnoon praising what he called the prime minister’s political maturity and vision for the country.
“The prime minister does not believe in any personal vendetta… he is a mature politician and wants to focus only on putting the country’s battered economy back on the track and improving the law and order.”
Mamoon’s reconciliatory remarks are an indication that the civilian government is moving fast to control any possible damage in the civil-military ties. Mamoon, the soft-spoken and easygoing businessman from Karachi, is known for his closeness with Sharif. He stood by Sharif when many of the party stalwarts deserted their leader during the former military-led government.
“The army knows that Pakistani economy is facing a crisis-like situation and fully backs the government’s efforts for its revival… the army also supports the holding of talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” Mamoon said.
He, however, admitted that the public opinion remains divided over the government’s talks initiative. “There are people who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban… they have seen their near and dear ones killed by terrorists. Therefore, they oppose talks… but still a majority favours this process.”
He said that the talks may result in brokering peace with some of the militant groups. This means that even if the government decides to launch an operation, then it would have to face a fewer number of militants, the president added.
Mamoon said that the country’s economic revival remains impossible without peace in the country, especially in the financial capital of Karachi.“The operation (against criminals and terrorists) in Karachi is going in the right direction, but we need more efforts by the Sindh government for its complete success,” he said.
“If there is peace in Karachi, the Sindh province will benefit the most… the provincial government should realise this,” he said.While giving details of the government’s efforts to boost growth and investment, Mamoon said that that China had promised $32 billion worth project financing and investments spanning over the next five years. “At least 22,000 megawatts of electricity will be generated through a mix of coal, nuclear and wind energy projects with the Chinese help.”
An economic corridor of roughly 4,000 kilometers will also be built connecting the Chinese city of Kashgar with Gawdar and Karachi, he said promising “extra security” to the Chinese investors.
“I know Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s mind. He will manage the situation. He will not allow any of the differences to magnify,” President Mamnoon told The News in an interview at the State Guest House — his abode in Karachi.
“The situation is certainly not grave as being painted by the media. An unnecessary hype has been created... the media should play a responsible role,” said the president while urging national unity and cohesion.
Hussain, the supreme commander of the Pakistani armed forces by virtue of his office, claimed that the army chief Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif remain on the same page on all the important national issues. “I have exchanged views with the top army leaders, including the army chief, in recent days. The army continues to play a positive role and backs democracy,” he said.
Earlier this week, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, in a first of its kind statement, warned detractors against undermining the institution of the armed forces. “The Pakistan Army upholds the sanctity of all institutions and will resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride,” the army chief had said on Monday while visiting commandoes at their base near Tarbela. General Sharif’s remarks created an uproar and triggered speculations that ties between the civil and military leadership remain strained over the handling of former army chief Pervez Musharraf’s trial on treason charges and the government’s initiative of holding talks with the local Taliban responsible for the killing of thousands of civilians and security personnel.
However, President Mamnoon believed that an unnecessary controversy had been generated out of the army chief’s remarks. “I agree that some statements were not needed and could have been avoided,” said Mamnoon in an apparent reference to the derogatory remarks made against Musharraf by Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
The prime minister had categorically told his party leaders not to issue any statements against Pervez Musharraf as his case is in the court and remains sub judice, said Mamnoon praising what he called the prime minister’s political maturity and vision for the country.
“The prime minister does not believe in any personal vendetta… he is a mature politician and wants to focus only on putting the country’s battered economy back on the track and improving the law and order.”
Mamoon’s reconciliatory remarks are an indication that the civilian government is moving fast to control any possible damage in the civil-military ties. Mamoon, the soft-spoken and easygoing businessman from Karachi, is known for his closeness with Sharif. He stood by Sharif when many of the party stalwarts deserted their leader during the former military-led government.
“The army knows that Pakistani economy is facing a crisis-like situation and fully backs the government’s efforts for its revival… the army also supports the holding of talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” Mamoon said.
He, however, admitted that the public opinion remains divided over the government’s talks initiative. “There are people who have suffered at the hands of the Taliban… they have seen their near and dear ones killed by terrorists. Therefore, they oppose talks… but still a majority favours this process.”
He said that the talks may result in brokering peace with some of the militant groups. This means that even if the government decides to launch an operation, then it would have to face a fewer number of militants, the president added.
Mamoon said that the country’s economic revival remains impossible without peace in the country, especially in the financial capital of Karachi.“The operation (against criminals and terrorists) in Karachi is going in the right direction, but we need more efforts by the Sindh government for its complete success,” he said.
“If there is peace in Karachi, the Sindh province will benefit the most… the provincial government should realise this,” he said.While giving details of the government’s efforts to boost growth and investment, Mamoon said that that China had promised $32 billion worth project financing and investments spanning over the next five years. “At least 22,000 megawatts of electricity will be generated through a mix of coal, nuclear and wind energy projects with the Chinese help.”
An economic corridor of roughly 4,000 kilometers will also be built connecting the Chinese city of Kashgar with Gawdar and Karachi, he said promising “extra security” to the Chinese investors.
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