Pakistani Army Denies Coup Plans

Pakistan’s army chief has denied accusations that the military is working to oust the country’s civilian government amid tension over a secret memo sent to Washington earlier this year about an alleged coup, the military said Friday.

The memo scandal has heightened long-standing tensions between the army and the government at a time when the country is struggling to deal with a violent Taliban insurgency, a stuttering economy and deteriorating relations with its most important ally, the United States.

On Thursday, a visibly angry Mr. Gilani told a state function he believed a conspiracy to bring down his government was under way. He didn't give details but was widely believed to be referring to a move by opposition politicians in the Supreme Court to investigate Mr. Gilani's administration for its alleged role in seeking Washington's help to neuter the power of the Pakistan army.