Islamabad:
A quiet political storm met on the capital on Tuesday night, since a sequence of high -level meetings caused generalized speculation about an imminent change in the country’s political landscape.
In an unusual sequence of consecutive meetings on Tuesday, the head of the Army personnel, Syed also called Munir, called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the home of the Prime Minister, shortly before the prime minister met with President Asif Ali Zardari in the president’s house as speculation grew on the head of the army that possibly replaced the president.
High level commitments have taken place in the midst of increasing speculation about a possible constitutional amendment, with unconfirmed reports that suggest that President Zardari can renounce and potentially clarify the way for a successor in the presidency.
Speculation, largely fed by social networks, also hinted efforts behind the scene to replace the parliamentary system with a presidential form of government.
However, the Minister of Defense, Khawaja Asif, while talking with the Express PAkGazette, confirmed that the issue of the president’s resignation and his possible replacement by the head of the army had emerged at the meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz, but dismissed all those reports as unfounded, and added that the speculation occurred from a story of the media that possibly retired later.
Among other things, Asif also questioned the credibility of the media and their management of speculative stories. He said it was time for journalists and the media to reflect on their own “credibility.” In today’s accelerated environment, he added, the false news extends to the middle of the world before the truth even has the opportunity to catch up.
In the midst of intense speculation about a potential change in the power and political structure of the country, the Minister of Defense categorically refuted all speculation, saying that President Zardari was informed about the developments and showed “full confidence” in the government and the current political system.
“Mr. President was fully aware of the issue and expressed his full confidence in the Government,” Asif told Express PAkGazette, saying that the prime minister informed the president about the story not confirmed and subsequent developments. “Everything is flying the kite,” he said.
While confirming that Prime Minister Shehbaz had a meeting with the field marshal before the delegation led by the prime minister asked President Zardari, Asif said there was nothing unusual about it, since the prime minister and the field marshal meet routinely three times in a week to discuss different issues.
“The Army Chief has no interest in politics,” Asif said when asked about the opinion of the Army Chief on the potential change in the power structure of the country. The Minister of Defense said that the Army Chief is already occupying the greatest position in the Army and has won great respect to win the recent war against India. “He [field marshal] It doesn’t need anything, “Asif incorporated.
The minister also dismissed the conjectures that there were divisions between the ruler PML-N and PPPP after PML-N emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly after the decision of the Supreme Court in the reserved seats, saying that the two largest parts of Parliament would remain together. “We will keep a united face,” he said, “we are not just partners in power but beyond.”
After a mandate divided into the general elections of February 8, it was the PPPP that helped the PML-N to form the government in the center after having reached an agreement and divide the key constitutional offices, including PM, President, Governors, President and Vice President of Senate and President and Viciñador of the National Assembly, among them.
In response to a question about whether the 27th amendment was still being considered even if there were no changes in the presidency or political structure, Asif said there was no deliberation about any constitutional amendment at this time.
However, he argued that the introduction of a constitutional amendment was a legitimate process and could be used as it had been on 26 previous occasions.
When another question was asked, he also denied that the meeting held at the Presidency on Tuesday night included any discussion about possible legislative businesses in the coming weeks. “A legislative agenda was not discussed during the meeting,” he shared.
According to an official brochure issued by the presidency press wing after the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with President Asif Ali Zardari in AIWAN-E-SADR.
The statement indicated that the federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Mohsin Naqvi and the prime minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah were also present.
The official statement declared that the discussion focused on the political, economic and security situation of the country, including law and order and continuous efforts to combat terrorism.
In addition, he said that the prime minister informed the president about the government’s economic measures, and both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together for national stability, development and prosperity.
The meeting between the three main leaders arrives at a time when the so -called hybrid model no longer works from behind the curtain, is now completely in the center of the stage.
Once a frame presented for a long time, the hybrid system now seems to have matured completely and, in particular, it is no longer a clandestine arrangement, but something openly recognized, even celebrated.
With ASIF that publicly assumes the hybrid model as a successful formula and the military chief who receives global recognition typically reserved for elected leaders, it has become increasingly evident that the powerful interested parties are no longer simply orchestrating from the wings, they are visibly positioned in the center.
It is in this context that high -level meetings on Tuesday have fed more speculation.
