Naveed Ahmad Khan
RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif has said that Pakistan Army is a national army and it does not lean towards a political party, vision or ideology.
While addressing his first press conference in Rawalpindi since his appointment as head of the military’s media wing, DG ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir believes that the centre of real power is the nation. “Pakistan Army is a national army and it respects all politicians and political parties.”
“Constitution of Pakistan gives right to every Pakistanis for freedom of expression, however, the same Constitution puts some boundaries for the use of the right under some laws and restrictions. Some people may use this right in personal capacity and others may have some political objectives.”
The head of the military’s media wing further said that the institution gives importance to constructive criticism, however, Pakistani armed forces cannot be pressurised by bullying and deception like any other military forces in the world.
Major General Ahmed Sharif said that ex-servicemen are our assets and they rendered sacrifices for the country. The ex-servicemen associations were formed for their welfare but they do not have any political or commercial objectives. The DG ISPR clarified that veterans are not exempted from the law and their organisations should not wear the cloak of politics.
He further said that the government and the army have constitutional and non-political relationships and should not be politicised. It is in the best interest of all that the army remains apolitical.
The DG ISPR added that only chaos has spread in that country where the military is used for a particular political vision, ideology or religion. The nation and the military do not want to see the armed forces leaning towards a specific political party because the political use of the military leads to chaos.
He asked the political parties to promote the idea that the army is apolitical.
Election security
Maj Gen Sharif said that the military gives its opinion based on ground realities to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the court through the defence ministry regarding the election security arrangements.
He said that the defence ministry elaborated on the current situation before the Supreme Court (SC) and the ECP. He added that the details of the meeting between the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the senior military officers cannot be made public.
The DG ISPR said that the government implements military deployments under Article 245. The defence ministry apprised the ECP and the court regarding the provision of army contingents for election security, he added.
He said that there is a strong accountability and justice system existing in the military institutions. Whenever we get evidence against anyone, then the individual faces accountability, said the DG ISPR.
‘Military mindset against terrorists’
Maj Gen Sharif said that the army chief expressed his views about building national consensus to cope with the national challenges. He further said that negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was the decision of the then government, whereas, the armed forces have a military mindset against terrorists.
He added that the military mindset of the armed forces will continue till the elimination of the last terrorists and the establishment of permanent peace.
Regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police, the DG ISPR said that the sacrifices of the KP police force are not hidden from the nation. “We are improving the efficiency of the KP police. It is sorrowful that the KP police is criticised for general incidents. We are standing with the KP police and will always support it.”
The head of the military’s media wing said that baseless propaganda is being carried out against the armed forces through fake social media accounts of the ISPR.
Kabal incident
Maj Gen Sharif said that the Kabal incident was sorrowful and Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (IG KP) gave a detailed briefing regarding the blasts at the CTD police station. He said that evidence showed that it was not a terrorism incident.
“Kabal incident was apparently an accident as the pieces of evidence show that weaponry was stored on the first floor of the building. Rescue operation of Pakistan Army and other security institutions is still underway.”