Islamabad, Dec 26: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today dismissed reports that his government was planning to remove the chiefs of the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence agency, saying he had personally ensured that both generals were given an extension in service.
“I want to tell you these rumours that the government wants to possibly remove the Director General of the ISI and Gen (Ashfaq Parvez) Kayani is the talk of idiots. It is very wrong for some opportunistic people to present such views among the people,” he said during an interaction with a group of journalists this evening.
The government would not have given an extension to both Kayani and ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha if it was not satisfied with them, he said.
“If this were so, I would not have worked to give them an extension,” he said.
“They did not seek it (extension), I gave it on my own. I am happy with his (Kayani's) work, and I want to dispel this impression. Only idiots can say such things,” Gilani said in response to questions on whether the government intended to remove the generals.
Reports in a section of the media had said that the government was contemplating the removal of Kayani and Pasha against the backdrop of a standoff on an alleged memo that had sought US help to prevent a military coup in Pakistan in May.
Kayani is currently on a three-year extension givern to him in July 2010, while Pasha received a one-year extension last year.
