ISLAMABAD: Pakistani military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar said on Thursday the army should not be dragged into politics, after weeks of political turmoil in Pakistan that saw the ouster of one prime minister and the election of a new one.
Shehbaz Sharif, 70, took the oath of office this Monday following the dismissal of Imran Khan in Pakistan’s first no-confidence vote since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
In the weeks leading up to his removal, Khan has said the campaign by opposition parties to oust him was orchestrated by the United States. Khan and his supporters have variously expressed disappointment that the military and army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa did not support him against the alleged foreign plot.
In the days since Khan was ousted, anti- army and judiciary hashtags have remained top trends on social media platforms.
Pakistan has been ruled by the military for about half its history and tensions between governments and top generals often dominate politics.
“The army has nothing to do with the political process that took place a few days back in the country,” Iftikhar told reporters, referring to the no-trust vote on Sunday. “Do not drag the army into political matters.”
When questioned about the army’s stance on Khan’s claim of a foreign conspiracy to oust him and whether the military leadership had endorsed that claim at an National Security Committee (NSC) held last month, Iftikhar said:
“As far as military response about the NSC meeting is considered, that stance, in that [NSC] meeting, was fully given, and then a statement was issued, which clearly says what was concluded in that meeting.”
“Is there any word such as conspiracy used in it [statement], I think not.”
Answering questions about whether the army chief would seek a second extension, Iftikhar said: “Let me put this to rest: COAS [Chief of Army Staff] is neither seeking an extension, nor will he accept an extension. He will be retiring on time on November 29 [this year].”
Bajwa was handed a three-year extension In August 2019.
Any effort by a military chief to consolidate power is widely viewed with suspicion by many in Pakistan’s political classes, who are wary of the army extending its influence further into the civilian domain.
Don’t ‘drag’ army into politics, army chief to retire in November — Pakistan military
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Don’t ‘drag’ army into politics, army chief to retire in November — Pakistan military
- Pakistan has been ruled by the military for about half its history
- Tensions between governments and army often dominate politics
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
