Pakistan military gives stern warning to PM Gilani

Pakistan's army warned Wednesday that critical comments made by the prime minister would have "serious ramifications" and could wreak "potentially grievous consequences for the country". Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani earlier in the week told China's People's Daily online that the army chief and head of intelligence services had acted unlawfully by making unilateral submissions to an ongoing Supreme Court inquiry. The court's commission is investigating a controversial unsigned memo that allegedly sought the help of the US military in curbing the Pakistan military's power in the wake of the covert US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May last year. The probe has again pitted the country's powerful armed forces against the weak civilian leadership with Gilani's comments unusually bold in speaking out against army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha. Gilani said the two military leaders should have sought the government's approval before giving their submissions to the probe. "There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has levelled against COAS and DG ISI (army chief and spy chief) 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.