Islamabad: Pakistan Army chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has directed all officers of the force to refrain from meeting politicians and indulging in politics.

Kayani, who took over in November after President Pervez Musharraf doffed his military uniform, has written to his juniors, including commanding officers of key formations, that they had "no role to play in politics" and that soldiers should heed their professional responsibilities.

He said the prime role of the armed forces is to carry out their professional duties and they should not indulge in the political affairs of the country, The News quoted reliable sources as saying.

Kayani, in his letter, said no officer should call any politician to the army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and warned that any one who violated his directive would have "to face the music".

The army men were also advised by their chief to avoid any direct or indirect interaction with political leaders. The sources said that following Kayani's directives, army officers deployed in civil departments were being recalled to their units. Army officers have already been withdrawn from the Water and Power Development Authority and the railways.

Kayani is widely perceived as a strategist who is apolitical. Shortly after taking over, he declared 2008 the "Year of the Soldier" in a bid to address the problem of low morale in the army which in battling militants in the northwester tribal areas.

Chairing his first meeting of the Corps Commanders earlier this month, Kayani said the "will of the people and their support" is decisive. He also called for the army to focus on training and operational preparedness to tackle internal and external threats.

Source : PTI