No threat to democracy in Pakistan in General Kayani’s presence: Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE - In the wake of rumours doing the rounds about the possibility of another military intervention in Pakistan, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is a professional soldier and in his presence, there is no threat to the political system.

“Gen Kayani is a thinking mind. He is a seasoned pro-democracy Army Chief. The democratic system faces no threat in his presence,” the Nation quoted Sharif, as saying.

Applauding the Army for managing the security of the country as well as the rescue and relief efforts for the flood victims, he said that these issues were subjects of discussions at the meetings the opponents were so critical of.

Sharif also defended his meetings with the Army Chief, stressing that they were the need of the hour. “We are the flag-bearers of democracy,” he said, implying that his party would not play any role in the derailment of the democratic system.

Denying reports that he met Kayani in the dark of the night. “It’s our rivals (not us) who meet (the Army Chief) secretly, in the dark of the night,” said Sharif, without identifying the “rivals” he was referring to.

Many rumours are circulating these days about the fate of the existing system and according to these speculations, another military intervention could take place any time and then an interim system, like the one experimented by Bangladesh, could be introduced, the paper said. (ANI)