Pakistan army warns PM of 'grievous consequences'

Pakistan's army warned Wednesday of "grievous consequences" for the country over criticism by the prime minister that has ramped up tensions between the military and civilian leadership. The row centres on an ongoing Supreme Court inquiry set up to investigate a controversial unsigned memo allegedly delivered to the US military seeking its help in curbing the power of Pakistan's armed forces in May. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani earlier this week accused the army and intelligence chiefs of failing to make their submissions to the commission through government channels in an unusually bold interview with Chinese media. In a statement issued Wednesday, the army vociferously denied Gilani's accusation, saying it had passed its response through the defence ministry to the court in accordance with the law. "There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has levelled against COAS (army chief General Ashfaq Kayani) and DG ISI (spy chief Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha) and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the constitution of the country," said the army's statement. "This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country." Kayani returned on Tuesday from China and met on Wednesday with the head of Myanmar's air force in Rawalpindi. The defence secretary was immediately sacked over what the government said was a "misunderstanding" between Gilani and the top brass. Prime minister has terminated the contract of defence secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi for gross misconduct," a senior government official told AFP. State media said he had been fired "for creating misunderstanding between the state institutions".