By IANS,
Islamabad : There is a no threat of a military coup, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said, referring to a secret memo to Washington that said President Asif Ali Zardari feared a military takeover.
Gilani Thursday said that there was no threat of either “judicial” or “military” coup as both the institutions were pro-democracy and did not want to derail the system, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.
The prime minister was responding to the queries of callers from across the country in a live PTV’s programme “Prime Minister Online”.
Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had alleged that a senior Pakistani diplomat asked for help in getting a message from Zardari to then chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. Ijaz alleged that Zardari feared a military takeover following the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in his hideout in Pakistan town of Abbottabad May 2.
Husain Haqqani resigned as Pakistan’s envoy to the US and former minister Sherry Rehman was appointed in his place.
To a question, Gilani said Pakistan’s decision to boycott the Bonn Conference in protest against the NATO/ISAF attack and violation of its sovereignty, was final and taken collectively.
The NATO helicopter gunships attacked two Pakistan Army checkposts in Mohmand Agency Nov 26, killing 24 soldiers.
“How we can attend the conference when our sovereignty came under attack,” he said.
He said the decision to stay away from the Bonn Conference was taken after thoughtful consideration and after the meeting of the federal cabinet which also endorsed the decisions of halting NATO supplies and to vacate Shamsi airbase.
Gilani said: “If we sit in the Bonn Conference and another attack takes place who will be responsible for that.”
He denied that they were considering sending Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Bonn.
Gilani said Pakistan can work with the US, NATO and ISAF under a new agreement and by devising new rules of engagement.
“We have to formulate new rules of engagement and we can work under a new agreement.”