ISLAMABAD, Dec 19: An unusual statement by the Inter Services Public Relations, about the telephonic conversation on Friday between the President and the army chief, spurred speculation that differences between the civilian side of the government and the military establishment over the memo case were far from over. “The telephonic conversation between the President and COAS lasted approximately one minute in which he enquired about the health of the President. Hence, attributing anything more to this telephonic conversation is unfounded and unnecessary,” an ISPR statement said on Monday after President Zardari’s return.

Prima facie, the statement, whose prologue read: “Some events of the last 72 hours are being attributed to the telephonic conversation between the President and COAS and the meeting between the Prime Minister and COAS held on 16th December 2011,” was meant to quash the impression that President Zardari returned under a deal.

The beleaguered president’s sudden departure for ‘treatment’ almost a fortnight ago had led to rumours that he had fled because of fears of being sacked.

The undertone of the ISPR statement is, nevertheless, quite telling.

The assertion that the call from Mr Zardari lasted about ‘one minute’ and the conversation remained confined to questions about the president’s health, according to political analysts, implies that differences between the army and the government over the memo affair persist and that the military has not budged from its original demand for getting the matter probed by a Supreme Court-appointed commission.

An equally important subtext, which may have evaded ordinary eyes, is that no assurances have been extended to the government in the contacts between the two sides (government and the army) after the replies of the federation, Army chief Gen Kayani, and ISI Director General Lt Gen Shuja Pasha were submitted to the apex court.The statement came as the Supreme Court discussed the maintainability of the memo petitions.

The government has relentlessly tried to downplay the prevailing perception that the troubled civil-military ties were headed for a standoff.

A meeting between Prime Minister Gilani and Gen Kayani over the weekend was utilised to give an impression that there was no rift between the two in the aftermath of memo case. But it is evident that the army is pushing for an in-depth probe into the scandal by a court-appointed body contrary to government’s desire of getting the matter investigated by a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on National Security.