RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa on Wednesday stated that the military has decided to remain apolitical and will remain so in the future.
Addressing the Defence and Martyrs Day ceremony at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the army chief said he was addressing “as the army chief for the last time…I am retiring soon”.
After paying a tribute to the martyred and their families, General Bajwa commented on political matters and said armies around the world are seldom criticised but the army in Pakistan is often subjected to criticism. “I think the reason for that is the army’s involvement in politics.”
“That is why in February this year, the army decided not to interfere in politics.”
Regretting the use of inappropriate language by certain, the outgoing army chief said it the right of political parties and people to criticise the army, but “the language used should be [better]”.
“The army has stated its catharsis and I hope political parties will also reflect on their behaviour,” said Gen Bajwa.
The army chief, due to retire on November 29, said the “reality is that there have been mistakes from every institution, including political parties. He added that lessons should be learned from the mistakes so the nation could move forward.
In a thinly veiled reference to PTI’s claims of regime change, the army chief said that a “false narrative was created from which an escape is now being attempted”.
He added if a regime change operation had taken place, the army would not have sat idly by and would have protected the country.
The COAS also said that the country was facing serious economic issues and political stability was required as no one political party could take the country out of the current fiscal crisis.
Urging for the adoption of a “true democratic culture”, Gen Bajwa said when a party won the 2018 elections, they were branded as “selected” and when a party was replaced with another at the Centre after a vote of no confidence, that was called an “imported” government.
“We need to reject this behaviour, victory and defeat are part of politics,” said the army chief, adding that political parties of Pakistan would need to “develop the strength” to accept victory or defeat.
COAS Bajwa said that while we cannot repay the sacrifices rendered by the martyrs, they will also not allow them to go in vain.
I pray that in the coming days that the military will continue its streak of success.
Army’s primary job is to protect the grographical borders of the country, but the military has always stepped up beyond its mandate to serve the public.
Whether it is the issue of the Reko Diq or Karkay fines, losses from FATF or getting Pakistan to the white [and out of grey list], or merger of the tribal areas or fencing the border, arranging cheap gas from Qatar or securing loans from friendly countries, fighting Covid-19 or tackling swarms of locusts, relief and rescue works during the floods, military has always worked beyond its mandate to serve the nation and will always do.
I assure you, that despite all of these additional tasks, the military will never ignore its primary functions and in tackling terrorism.
You know that the peace in our cities and villages is due to the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs. Nations who forget their martyrs are wiped away.
Defence Day ceremony is being held at the Army Auditorium in General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi, which was earlier postponed due to flood situation.
The Defence Day is celebrated on September 6, but due to the devastating floods in Pakistan, the ceremony had been postponed.
