PRIME Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his displeasure over Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar's remarks in which he was quoted as having said that the army chief had not asked for an extension in service, nor was it being given.

Talking to a group of newsmen, Mr Gilani described the minister's remarks uncalled-for, and added that “he (the minister) is not supposed to say such things and he should not have said that”.

This was not the first time that Mr Mukhtar made a careless statement on a delicate issue. Earlier, while refuting media reports that American drones take off from the Pakistan territory to attack militant's hideouts, the defence minister had said “The drones do land in Pakistan territory but do not take off from there”.

The statement was ridiculous. It was not possible that the planes landed in Pakistan territory but did not take off from there. Had that been a correct statement, Pakistan, by now, could have a big fleet of drones.

It appears that the cabinet ministers lack coordination and proper liaison among themselves. They are found giving conflicting statements to the media, even crossing over the area of their jurisdiction and encroaching upon others' portfolios, for nothing.

A PAKISTANI
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