Shahbaz Sharif Calls on Gen Kayani

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 7:33 pm

ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday admitted that he had called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani at GHQ Rawalpindi few days back. Shahbaz Sharif Calls on Gen Kayani

Though, media was not formally apprised of details of the meeting but reportedly Chief Minister Punjab conveyed his concerns to the army chief regarding the recent security situation in the province following the deadly attack on UN office in Islamabad that claimed five lives.

Taking to newsmen here, Shahbaz said that neither he would deny nor confirm his meeting with Gen Kayani, saying that “Such meetings are a routine matter.”

Earlier, Alan Johnson, MP, Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Bob Anisworth, MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom (UK) also called on Chief of Army Staff at GHQ today.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility of the attack at UN offices.

A spokesman said it launched the deadly attack at the U.N. food agency’s offices in Islamabad because international relief work was not in “the interest of Muslims.”

Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq said Tuesday his group targeted the World Food Program because the U.N. and foreign aid groups are “infidels.”

Tariq said the Taliban would launch more attacks on Pakistani and U.S. targets.