Pakistani army moves against prime minister after military chief sacked

October 12, 1999
Web posted at: 11:57 p.m. HKT (1557 GMT)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan fell into confusion and uncertainty Tuesday when the country's army took control of key government and public buildings in the Pakistani capital, including Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif's official residence.

Two hours before the troop mobilization, Sharif had announced the firing of his powerful army chief, Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf.

The army then shut down Islamabad's airport and official radio and television, and reportedly arrested Information Minister Mushahid Hussein. Troops also surrounded the home of Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz and were said to have taken over a number of other important buildings in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

Witnesses reported hearing shots fired in an Islamabad suburb after the troop deployment.

'Precautionary measures'

Sharif was at his residence when the army made its move, reportedly meeting with the country's secret service head, Gen. Zia Uddin, the man he named to replace Musharraf as head of Pakistan's military.

Musharraf had been out of the country on a visit to Sri Lanka. He arrived back in Islamabad Tuesday and was seen going into a meeting with the army's top generals.

Television and radio broadcasts ended when the army seized the broadcast facilities. Mobile phone service was also cut.

Military sources told reporters the moves were "precautionary measures" to safeguard important facilities from public reaction to Musharraf's dismissal. The sources would not elaborate.

Sharif's office, contacted by CNN, said it would have no comment. At the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, officials said the foreign minister was in a meeting.

Rift between Sharif, military over Kashmir

Musharraf's dismissal, announced on state-run television as an early retirement, came as a surprise. Musharraf's term as army chief was to have ended in April 2000.

Defense sources said Sharif also dismissed Chief of General Staff Mohammed Aziz.

Rumors of a military coup had flown since Sharif's decision to order militants to withdraw this summer from Indian territory in the Kargil region of disputed Kashmir. The move ended a bitter two-month border dispute with India, but prompted demonstrations calling for Sharif's resignation.

Sharif's order apparently began a rift between the prime minister and Musharraf, who had reportedly been involved in organizing the incursion into Indian territory.

The summer border dispute in Kashmir nearly erupted into full-scale war between nuclear neighbors Pakistan and India. Three of four wars the two countries have fought in their 52-year history have been over Kashmir.