Lahore: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has emerged as a mediator between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani after differences between Pakistan's civilian government and the powerful military seemed to reach at point of no return.

Hussain, who served as Prime Minister during Pervez Musharraf's reign, is considered to be close to the security establishment and is known for his links with the armys top
brass.

The leadership of the Pakistan People's Party has requested Hussain, whose PML-Q is part of the ruling coalition, to help defuse tensions between the government and the military.

The tensions between the two institutions mounted after Gilani's interview to a Chinese daily, during which he said that affidavits submitted to the Supreme Court by Kayani and
Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha on the memo issue were "unconstitutional and illegal".

The military responded by issuing a statement yesterday that said the premier's remarks have "grievous consequences".

"Our party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is ready to mediate between the army and the government," PML-Q spokesman Kamil Ali Agha said.

The PML-Q will not mind playing the role of a bridge between the two institutions as it is in the best interest of the country.

Nobody would like a clash of institutions," Agha said.

Hussain had asked all stakeholders to observe restraint and clear all misunderstandings through dialogue, he said.

Tags: Army chief, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan, Yousuf Raza Gilani