April 03, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 2: Inter-Services Public Relations Director-General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas has clarified that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani did not call on President Pervez Musharraf before or after briefing Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and heads of the parties in the coalition government on Wednesday.

He said there was no substance in media reports about such a meeting.

“Neither the COAS visited the President’s House nor called on the president,” he said.

Clarifying another report regarding an award conferred by the United States on the COAS, the spokesman said it had no substance. He said that during training as a major, Gen Kayani had participated in a training course in the US and on that occasion his picture had been taken. In accordance with the norms of the college, the photograph of Gen Kayani had been displayed in its ‘Hall of Fame’ because of his appointment as the COAS, he said.

“This is a routine of the college and there is no extraordinary happening,” Maj-Gen Abbas said.—APP