(From top) Kayani, Gilani, Zardari and Lodhi, who was sacked as defence secretary. (AP, Reuters)

Islamabad, Jan. 11: Conflict between the Pakistan government and the military escalated to unparalleled levels today after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani fired the defence secretary and the army chief warned him of “grievous consequences” for his tirade against the military hierarchy.

The rapid developments triggered rumours of a possible military intervention amid reports that the army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, had called a meeting of his principal staff officers based in the army’s General Headquarters tomorrow.

Some analysts feel that the government, which has failed to check corruption and an economic downslide, is trying to become a “political martyr” by taking the situation to a point of no-return. “The government wants to pinch the military to an extent that it is left with no option but to intervene,” leading defence analyst Ikram Sehgal said. “The military does not want to overthrow the government and it is very clear,” said another defence analyst, retired Air Marshal Arshad Chaudhry. However, he said that the government is following path of confrontation instead of reconciliation.

Most independent analysts say the army has little appetite for a direct coup but is happy to allow the Supreme Court, believed to be hostile to President Asif Ali Zardari, to end the current set-up via “constitutional” means.

At the centre of the confrontation is a memo sent to Washington asking for its help in reining in the power of the military. The memo, allegedly masterminded by Pakistan’s then envoy to Washington, outraged the army, which portrayed it as a threat to national security.

The Supreme Court ordered a probe to establish whether it had been sanctioned by President Asif Zardari, something that could lead to impeachment hearings. As part of the investigation, Kayani and the head of the ISI, Lt Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha, submitted statements to the court in which they suggested the memo was part of a conspiracy against the army.

The Supreme Court is handling another affair that could also see the dismissal of the government. It has ordered the attorney-general to open corruption proceedings against Zardari over a once shelved case, something the government is refusing to do.

In an interview, Gilani had described replies by Kayani and the ISI chief Lt Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha in the Supreme Court over the secret memo scandal as “illegal and unconstitutional”.

The Prime Minister’s office today dropped the bombshell to terminate the contract of the defence secretary, retired Lt Gen. Khalid Naeem Lodhi. It accused Lodhi of “gross misconduct and creating misunderstanding between the institutions”.

Late tonight, Gilani said he had no differences with the army and the chief’s statement earlier was issued with his knowledge.

The defence secretary was sacked for a statement that he recently made after submission of replies by Kayani and Pasha in the Supreme Court that his ministry has no operational control over the military.

“The secretary, defence, committed illegal action, which created misunderstandings between the institutions and came as a gross misconduct,” the Prime Minister’s office said.

A close confidante of Gilani, Nargis Sethi, has been appointed defence secretary, which many believed is aimed at keeping an eye on the army.

The army leadership was annoyed over Gilani’s statement to a Chinese newspaper when Kayani was in China on an official visit. Gilani said that the army and ISI replies to the court were submitted without approval, which was “illegal and unconstitutional”. The military struck back with a strong statement today.

“The honourable Prime Minister inter alia termed the responses given by (the) COAS (chief of the army staff) and (the) DG ISI in the alleged memo case to the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan as unconstitutional and illegal,” the military said.

“There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable Prime Minister has levelled against (the) COAS and (the) DG ISI and has unfortunately charged the officers for violation of the Constitution of the country.

This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country.”

It said the copies of the statements of the two respondents were not forwarded directly to the Supreme Court, adding that responsibility for moving summaries and obtaining approvals of competent authority lay with the relevant ministries and not with the respondents.