‘Army may intervene to resolve Qadri stand-off’

WASIM IQBAL

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army may intervene to resolve the stand-off between government and Mohammad Tahirul Qadir, but the military has no appetite to stage any coup like in the past, a military official said on condition of anonymity.

In the presence of independent judiciary, media and civil society, army would not repeat what it did in the past, the official said. He said linking various developments occurring simultaneously in the country with the establishment was totally incorrect.

Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry, an Adviser to the Prime Minister told Reuters that there was ‘no doubt’ that the country’s powerful military and the Supreme Court were working together to topple the government. He was reacting to the Supreme Court which ordered NAB to arrest the Prime Minister.

The official pointed out that the apex court had taken up the petition of the rental power projects scam against the Prime Minister long before Qadri’s long march. 

Qadri’s long march prompted speculation that the military might be using him as a proxy to delay polls and install a compliant interim administration. Qadri’s fiery speeches in which he supported the army as a critical player lent credence to the belief that he enjoyed army’s support.