Earlier we have seen instances where Pakistani military  establishment interfere in politics as Pakistan has a long history of being ruled by military. But in a rare stand-off, now the military chief General Kayani warned the judiciary especially the chief justice by saying that any efforts to undermine the military and "draw a wedge" between it and its citizens would not be tolerated.

The army chief's statement was an indirect response to chief supreme court judge Iftikhar Chaudhry, who ruled last month that the military must stop interfering in politics, a rare challenge to Pakistan's powerful generals.

"Any effort which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan undermines the larger national interest," said General Ashfaq Kayani, in a rare public statement that did not specifically mention the court or its judges. He added "While individual mistakes might have been made by all of us in the country, these should be left to the due process of law. Let us not pre-judge anyone, be it civilian or a military person, and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions".

Last month the ruling was in connection to a case of 1996 where a retired air marshal petitioned against the army for sponsoring a political alliance. In the ruling the apex court also directed the federal government to take actions against the accused army people.

The nuclear-armed with all the traits of  a failed state has been turbulent for a long time now. With people unhappy with U.S intervention, Taliban militancy and now the stand-off between two of the most powerful establishment of the country is making the dreams of stability fade away, At least  that's what it seems as of now.
(With inputs from internet)

(AW-Jyotishman)