Pakistan army to avoid involvement in politics

The powerful Pakistani military establishment gave a guarded response to President Pervez Musharraf’s impending impeachment...

The powerful Pakistani military establishment gave a guarded response to President Pervez Musharraf’s impending impeachment, saying it “would avoid involvement in political matters”.

Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani chaired a corps commanders conference on Thursday to mainly discussing the prevailing domestic situation and operational issues in the country.

The two-day meet of the army’s top brass was convened well ahead of the four-month-old coalition’s decision on Thursday to move for the impeachment of Musharraf.

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No official statement on the meeting was issued but the influential Dawn newspaper quoted informed sources saying that it “resolved to continue concentrating on professional issues and avoid involvement in political issues”.

The meeting also discussed political developments, including the ruling coalition’s decision to impeach the President, the sources said.

The current security situation in Pakistan with special reference to the military operations against militants in Bajaur Agency and the Swat valley of the North West Frontier Province was also discussed in the meeting, sources said.