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India-Pakistan
Kayani demands removal of Zardari loyalists
2010-10-03
[Pak Daily Times] Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani has handed a list of corrupt or allegedly incompetent ministers to President Asif Ali (Ten Percent) Zardari, demanding their removal, according to Western and Pak officials.
Slow motion overthrow of the civilian government? Who then will stand between them and the wrath of President Obama?
According to the Guardian newspaper, the tension between Pakistain's civilian and military leaders is the latest political fallout from historic floods that have triggered stringent criticism of the government's handling of the crisis. A senior Western official confirmed reports that Kayani had asked the president to remove named loyalists from his 60-member cabinet as part of an internal reform process. The official did not give the requested names.

Analysts said the army stance reflected a broader public impatience with the government's performance. An opinion poll taken last July gave Zardari a 20 percent popularity rating.

"The way things are configured now, everyone -- the army, the institutions, the man on the street -- would like to see some kind of shakeup in the current government," said analyst Cyril Almeida.

He added, "I don't think it will work. The more pressure you pile on Zardari, the more likely he is to dig in his heels."

A close Zardari aide denied that the army was pressuring the government. "It's absolute rubbish. This is a rumour-driven crisis, driven by those with a pathological hatred of President Zardari and the PPP. They have been predicting his downfall from the day he was elected. And they have been wrong," he said.
How many times to they have to be right?
Some of the tension was punctured on Monday after Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met Kayani after which they released an anodyne statement about flood relief.

Zardari's aide said reports of army interference were exaggerated. "They have a legitimate input into national security. But to their credit the leadership have been very careful in nurturing democracy this time."
Posted by:Fred

#1  Who is more pro western out of Zadari and Kayani?

I feel the army are more Pro miltant than the Govt?
Posted by: Paul D   2010-10-03 15:41  

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