Gilani dispels earlier statement about 'Army's unconstitutional support' in memo probe

Islamabad, Jan 25 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has retracted from his earlier statement against the country's military establishment that it had acted unconstitutionally in supporting a court investigation of a controversial memo.

"I want to dispel the impression that the military leadership acted unconstitutionally or violated rules," The Dawn quoted Gilani, as saying.

His comments came a day after a high-level meeting with the military to discuss a possible trilateral summit on the future of Afghanistan.

"The current situation cannot afford conflict among the institutions," he added.

Earlier this month, Gilani had criticised the military, saying that the affidavits submitted to the Supreme Court by the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt General Ahmad Shuja Pasha on 'Memo Gate' were 'unconstitutional and illegal'.

In an interview with the People's Daily Online of China, which was released by the official Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Gilani had said that since the COAS and ISI DG had submitted their replies to the court without seeking approval of the competent authority under the rules of business, the statements carried no legal import.

Gilani left Islamabad today for Davos to attend the annual summit of the World Economic Forum along with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and other officials. (ANI)