Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, says he does not tell the defence force what to do.
This comes after claims in parliament by the opposition leader, Belden Namah, that Mr O'Neill had ordered the re-instatement of the commanding officer who had ordered an attack on a Taurama medical school campus earlier this year.
In July, more than 30 soldiers had stormed the medical school, leaving dozens of students and staff injured.
Mr Namah, who is a former army officer, claims that the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Benny, who had been dishonourably discharged from the defence force, got his job back after Mr O'Neill intervened.
He also suggests Mr Stanley is a first cousin of the prime minister.
The newspaper, The National, quotes Mr O'Neill as saying he never interfered with or gave instructions to the military because he believed in the professionalism of its commander and the other commanding officers.
He says political directives to the military are the responsibility of the defence minister, Fabian Pok.
Mr O'Neill also told parliament that Mr Benny is not his first cousin.
