ISLAMABAD: The statement of Federation’s counsel Kamal Azfar before the Supreme Court that the democratic system in Pakistan is under threat from Pakistan Army’s GHQ and American CIA, has stunned the nation and put the government in a tight corner — almost an indefensible no-win situation.

As the corridors of the Presidency are used to hear such mutterings often, the presidential spokesman gave a calculated response on Azfar’s statement, the prime minister’s office unambiguously distanced itself from this, whereas the Pakistan Army is keeping a mum on what is undoubtedly a serious charge against the military from not an ordinary man but an official representative of the Federation in the country’s highest court.

Kamal Azfar’s second thought was that he should own it as a statement made “in his personal capacity” and not being the view of the Federation but, whatever it was, it has baffled certain minds in the government. “This high flying statement has complicated the government’s case both within the court and outside,” a top legal brain of the government said on condition of not being named, hinting that necessary clarifications and explanations would follow sooner than later.

The Pakistan Army would never appreciate this but, so far, it is keeping quiet and has resorted to the wait-and-see policy. A military spokesman when contacted by The News a few hours after Azfar’s stunner, which spread like wildfire as breaking news on different private television channels, appeared oblivious of what has been said in the country’s top court by the representative of the Federation.

The spokesman said that only after going through what has been uttered before the Full Court on Monday afternoon, it would be decided whether to offer any comment on this or not. Though the Pakistan Army may not like to be dragged into any unnecessary controversy, the statement is bound to have upset many in the GHQ.

When approached, President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that what Azfar has uttered is a matter between the court and the counsel to which he does not want to offer any comment. Babar said that Azfar has already explained before the Supreme Court that what he said about the GHQ and CIA, was his personal view.

Some of the frequent visitors of the Presidency and those having close association with Asif Ali Zardari do talk about the growing gulf between the president and GHQ and the former’s apprehensions about the army. However, Babar did not want to comment on any such thing.

Prime minister’s spokesman Mian Jehangir, however, was unambiguous to disassociate Prime Minister Gilani from what Kamal Azfar said. The PM’s spokesman said that Gilani does not believe that the GHQ or Pakistan Army poses any threat to democracy. “Why would the GHQ do any such thing,” he wondered and reiterated that the Prime Minister’s Secretariat is absolutely clear about the positive role of the Pakistan Army and its chief.

Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar is expected to represent the prime minister’s feelings before the apex court today (Tuesday). When approached, Khawar said that the federal government would present its “clear position” before the apex court today.

He said that he does not think what Kamal Azfar said is or has ever been the view of the federal government. “I don’t know at whose behest he said this but I think he has said it in his personal capacity, the acting attorney general added.

President Asif Ali Zardari in his recent video-address to a gathering in Karachi, on the occasion of PPP’s anniversary, had stated that there was no threat to democracy from the army and opposition and that they (army and opposition) are providing strength to the system.

On that occasion, he turned his guns towards Geo and Jang Group and a few journalists associated with the group. However, the Presidency’s ‘love’ for the military and its top commanders is known not only to the President Zardari’s close associates but also to others, including even those who are into the business of recording telephonic conversations.

This is also no secret that Kamal Azfar has been hired to represent the Federation only after the Presidency’s direction and following fears, which have gripped some key NRO beneficiaries in the Presidential camp, about the outcome of the NRO case being heard by the Supreme Court.