Zardari at odds with army chief

In a bid to remove 'misunderstanding' between President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar are likely to arrange a meeting between the two.
According to insiders, Gilani and Mukhtar are working together to resolve issues before the expected visit of top US officials, General Stanley McChrystal and Defence Secretary Robert Gates.
Both the American officials are expected to visit Pakistan later this month.
Gilani has informed Zardari that there are "no more misunderstandings between the civil and military leadership on the Kerry-Lugar Bill" and all the concerns expressed by the Pakistan Army in October last on the Bill will be addressed by the US.
Mukhtar suggested the President to invite all the corp commanders and formation commanders for a dinner at the Presidency as Supreme Commander of Pakistan's armed forces in order to reduce the differences.
One of the federal ministers has also suggested Gilani that he should invite the Army Chief as a special guest in the proposed cabinet meeting, The News reports.
"Participation of General Kayani would give an impression that there are no differences between the civilian and military leadership," the minister said.
Ruling out any confrontation between the state institutions, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the appointment of the Naval and Air chiefs were done by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on merit, and that he will continue to make military appointments in future also.
In an interview with a private television channel, Zardari described Gilani as an 'exemplary' Prime Minister and said that a good government could compromise its popularity but it would never harm the country.
"As the party's co-chairman, I am accountable to the Parliament too," The News quoted Zardari, as saying.
Zardari said he would definitely contest the next general elections in line with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhuto's visions.
Criticising the Pakistan Muslim League-N for weakening the government by pulling out its Ministers from the Federal Cabinet, he said the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) never tried to destabilise the Punjab government.
Zardari said that he was elected as President by winning two-thirds majority vote though the PML-N had fielded its candidate against him in the House.