Army emphasises non-political role in national affairs, backs simultaneous elections
Pakistan
The ISPR DG says Pakistan Army stressed the need for constructive criticism
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhary has emphasized that the army will not involve itself in political affairs in the country.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, the spokesperson said that the army has always maintained a non-political relationship with the government, and it is not in the interest of the Pakistan Army or the nation to link the army with politics.
Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary stated that the army chief reiterated that the real axis of power was the people, and the Pakistan army is a national army.
"All politicians and political parties are respectable for the army, and the army does not support any particular party, thought or ideology," said DG ISPR.
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He told reporters that the previous government had decided to hold dialogue with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and they had openly admitted this as well.
The DG ISPR also addressed social media and the army's discipline, noting that some people on social media have become tools of external agendas, and it is irresponsible to discuss the Pakistan Army on social media.
He emphasized the importance of constructive criticism and discouraged futile discussions.
Regarding the involvement of ex-servicemen in politics, the spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces said that ex-servicemen were an asset to Pakistan, but they were not above the law. Organisations of ex-servicemen should not take the mantle of politics.
Army and elections
The spokesperson also touched on the issue of deployment regarding the election, which is governed under Article 245.
The army has given its fact-based output to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The report would have been made public if the Supreme Court wanted to make it public through an open hearing.
The ISPR DG warned that using the army for any political thought or particular religion could lead to chaos in the country.
The army had a non-political relationship with the government, and it was not appropriate to give the color of politics to this non-political relationship, he added.
Ahmed Sharif expressed support for simultaneous elections across the country, in line with a report submitted by the defence ministry to the Supreme Court.
Indian aggression and false statements
To a question regarding India, the ISPR chief said Indian aggression and false statements could not change history. The disputed status of Indian-held Kashmir was globally recognised and could not be changed, he said, adding that it was never an integral part of India nor it will remain its part.
He said army chief Gen Munir’s first visit was to the Line of Control (LoC) where the army chief had said that the armed forces could defend every inch of the country and could take the war to the enemies’ territories.
Border fencing
The DGPR DG said said nearly 3,141 kilometre-long border has been fenced along the frontiers with Afghanistan and Iran to prevent infiltration of terrorists.
He said 98 per cent border with Afghanistan and 85pc with Iran has been fenced, while 85pc of forts along the Afghanistan frontier and 33pc with Iran have been completed.
He further said that 65pc of former tribal areas have been cleared of land mines.
KP's socio-economic development
Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif said that 3,654 projects are being completed at a cost of Rs162 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), while 95pc of the affected population has returned to homes.
