Friday9/1/2009Janua ry, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani sacked his National Security Adviser (NSA) Maj Gen (retd) Mahmud Durrani without consulting President Asif Zardari and a surprised Presidency was informed about it after the decision was taken late Wednesday night, official sources disclosed here yesterday.
The sources say an angry prime minister came to know about the statement made by his adviser disclosing that Ajmal Kasab, the chief suspect arrested in Mumbai attacks, is a Pakistani national through media.
In the same way the president heard the news of the removal of Durrani, a close aide of Zardari, through television's 9pm news bulletin.  
The sources at the Prime Minster House said that Gilani took the decision to remove his adviser, for speaking without his permission, as per constitution.
When contacted, Durrani disputed the statement of the prime minister regarding the nationality of Mumbai attacks suspect Kasab.
However, Durrani said, "I termed Kasab as a Pakistani only after the Foreign Office issued a statement in this connection on Wednesday and before that I said in an interview with (an Indian TV) channel that Kasab could be a Pakistani."  
Durrani said that the prime minister did not seek his explanation about the matter, which resulted in his removal. He was not informed formally about his removal till yesterday morning.  
Interestingly the statement attributed to Durrani was sent to a number of media persons by Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman through SMS.
Durrani to a query expressed his ignorance about the reason that led to his removal from the office and said that he would be able to give something tangible to the media shortly after meeting President Zardari.
Political observers are of the view that Gilani has made up his mind to assert, as he will not let anyone transgress his authority, particularly the president.
He brought about a number of changes in the senior bureaucracy last week without consulting anyone. He thought that he was taking the decision purely on merit.
The sources said that Gilani is emerging as a strong leader who has the support of the parliament where he is perhaps the only acceptable face of the ruling Pakistan People's Party in the prevailing circumstances.  
They say he has brought dignity and respect to the PPP and for the reason opposition parliamentary groups are also feeling comfortable with his presence on the top executive slot.
It is his wide acceptability in the parliament that has forestalled various intrigues against the government and the prime minister hatched at different levels.  
For the practical purpose the ruling alliance does not enjoy numerical majority in the National Assembly but the government is surviving because the opposition does not want to destabilise the incumbent administration as long Gilani is the chief executive.
Sources said that Durrani can become a major source of contention at the top echelon of the government because he was appointed as the national security adviser after his interaction with Zardari in the US early last year.
The decision of his appointment was taken when he was still Pakistan's ambassador to the US in early 2008. "”Internews 

Haqqani, Haroon rush to Pakistan

Thursday, January 08, 2009 By Azim M Mian NEW YORK: The statement by National Security Adviser General (retd) Mehmud Ali Durrani and his subsequent dismissal has created a difficult situation for Pakistan in Washington and world capitals. To consider the situation and review the strategy, both the Pakistani ambassadors departed for home �coincidently� on the same day, sources told The News. According to the sources, Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Abdullah Hussain Haroon have left for Pakistan for necessary consultations and new directions to deal with the situation arising out of developments and changed situation in the last two days. The statement, admitting that Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani national, has generated some difficulties for the Pakistani government in Washington and elsewhere, whereas it also indicates that the Zardari government has a weak control over its advisers and ministers, who are at liberty to make loose statements on sensitive issues. Departure of the two Pakistani ambassadors has been confirmed by their offices in New York and Washington. Meanwhile, responding to a phone call, Ambassador Hussain Haqqani confirmed that he was in transit at the Dubai Airport for his Pakistan-bound flight. He told this correspondent that his visit to Pakistan was scheduled for some time for the reason to meet his mother and other family members. He said once he is in Pakistan, he would visit the Foreign Office for consultations. Ambassador Haqqani is expected to be back in Washington within a week to finalise the forthcoming visit of President Zardari to Washington in late January. Due to his sudden departure, Ambassador Abdullah Hussain Haroon could not participate in the UN Security Council debate on Gaza, and Pakistani Deputy Permanent Representative Farooq Amil delivered a strong-worded speech against the Israeli attacks.