PM’s allegations may have “serious ramifications”: ISPR

ISLAMABAD: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday issued a statement saying the prime minister’s recent interview to a Chinese daily may have “very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country.”
"There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable Prime Minister has levelled against the COAS and DG ISI and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the Constitution of the Country,” the statement posted on ISPR’s website said.

The ISPR’s statement said that the prime minister’s statement “did not take into account” certain facts of the situation.

The statement said that the responses of the army chief and the DG ISI were forwarded to the ministry of defence and a letter was also dispatched to the attorney-general and the Supreme Court informing them that “replies have been submitted to the ministry of defence.”

The statement moreover stated that: “Any expectation that COAS will not state the facts [of the memo case] is neither constitutional nor legal. Allegiance to state and the constitution is and will always remain prime consideration for the respondent, who in this case has followed the book.”

Following the day’s developments, army chief General Ashfaque Pervez Kayani also called an emergency Corps Commanders’ meeting on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked Secretary Defence Khalid Naeem Lodhi and handed over the additional charge to Nargis Sethi, Secretary Cabinet Division.