KARACHI: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday said there was no clash between the state's institutions, adding that, there was a clear difference between a clash and difference of opinion, DawnNews reported.

The prime minister’s statement, which was a reiteration of what he said Friday, follows the speeches made on Monday by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

In his speech, Chief Justice Iftikhar had emphasised that missiles and tanks never guaranteed stability and security of a country, adding that, Supreme Court judges were the guardians and protectors of the Constitution and were mandated to uphold the canons of the constitution’s predominance and supremacy over all other institutions and authorities.

The chief justice’s statement had come soon after a speech made by General Kayani, in which, the army chief had warned critics against undermining the state’s institutions and behaving as the sole arbiters of national interest.

It was taken as more of a coincidence that the chief justice’s statement came soon after the army chief’s speech as well as after Sunday’s statement by President Asif Zardari.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of an automobile plant in Karachi today, the prime minister added that everyone in the country would have to take the role of an impediment in the face of extremism.

He said Pakistani society was one that cherished its values of peace and tolerance.

On the occasion, he said no country could progress without the contribution from its private sector, adding that, the country's prosperity was directly proportional to that of its industrialists.