Don’t undermine the military, warns Kayani

By
Hussain
-
62
284

In an apparent reaction to the recent verdict by the Supreme Court (SC) against two former generals for rigging the 1990 polls, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Monday that no single institution could define national interest or exceed its role under the constitution.
Last month, the SC had ruled that the military must stop interfering in politics. However, the military chief, in a rare public statement, warned: “Any effort which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and armed forces of Pakistan undermines the larger national interest.”
He said that any attempt to create a distinction between the army leadership and the troops was against the spirit of cohesion of the armed forces, and that the military would not tolerate it. Addressing a group of officers at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Kayani said: “Weakening of the institutions and trying to assume more than one’s due role will set us back. We owe it to the future of Pakistan to lay correct foundations today.”
“We should not be carried away by short-term considerations which may have greater negative consequences in the future,” he added.
The army chief said that Pakistan was going through a “defining phase”, adding, “No individual or institution has the monopoly to decide what is right or wrong while defining the ultimate national interest.” He said that all Pakistanis had a right to express their opinion and the national interest should only be defined through consensus.
Kayani’s statement, issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), did not explain the context of the top general’s remarks, but to many observers it appeared as a reaction to the verdict given by the top judiciary against former generals.
But a military official, who requested anonymity, gave the impression that Kayani’s remarks were a reaction to the ongoing criticism against the military leadership on the media. “The army chief is mindful of the feelings in the ranks and cadres of the army, and this ‘uncalled for’ criticism is affecting the morale of the military cadres,” he added.
On October 19, an SC bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered the government to take action against former army chief General (r) Mirza Aslam Beg and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General (r) Asad Durrani for distributing millions of rupees among selected politicians to influence the 1990 general election, which the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lost at the hands of the Islami Jamhoori Ittihad (IJI).

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62 COMMENTS

  3. I am all with the army and whatever they did back then was for greater good of Pakistan. Those who are against the army must put themselves in their shoes, and then they will realize there are times when one has to take decisions really dirty decisions for greater good of the people.

  4. These bloody Khakis never learn. If they try to do something like 3rd November then this time those who protested peacefully should pickup arms like tribes.

  7. We are fully support and agree with the Statement of Pakistan Army as a common citizen .There are great best role for peace in present of our brave and sincere forces particularly Army,Airforce and Navy.
    And also we condemn the statement of Chief Justice.

  8. The people of Pakistan must vote for leaders who will amend their constitution and make Pakistan a real democracy with Army limited to borders and barracks! Haven’t you lived for too long under military dictatorships? Its time to give power to the people!

    • At this stage if you are making a statement like "Army limited to borders and barracks!" than my friend you has miss read the situation. In every country army played a part in politics even in USA and your beloved India. If these army should stayed on borders then we should put all those corrupt politicians in jail too.

  9. we cannot accept this,that a simple politician become a big wealthy man,because all politician can not give his sacrifice against terrorism.
    Politician are workings only for his benefits not for security of the country.
    If a person not ready for sacrifice of country,We can not expect more then this.
    Our life and death only for Pakistan Army.

  12. Shaid ap logon ko India or dosron ki Ghulami bahut achi tareeqay se ati hai,Leken ham sar utha kar jeena jantey hai, Tum kia jaano,ke sar par Kafan band k kese jiya jata hai.

  14. why is kiyani talking like that i mean his time period is finished he should go now why he has been given extension. army should serve govt. not instruct. Supreme court is doing its job i do not understand what is going on in these generals minds they think they control us they cannot win even small encounters with little talibans what they are good for.

  19. We are fully support and agree with the Statement of Pakistan Army as a common citizen .There are great best role for peace in present of our brave and sincere forces particularly Army,Airforce and Navy.
    And also we condemn the statement of Chief Justice.

  20. The people of Pakistan must vote for leaders who will amend their constitution and make Pakistan a real democracy with Army limited to borders and barracks! Haven’t you lived for too long under military dictatorships? Its time to give power to the people!

  21. Its not our opinion the poor Pakistanis about army but its performance in kargil, war on terror, swat war, silala and Abbottbad raid and now queue wise corruption cases of top military brass are self explanatory to all world where we stand in our performance of military activism.
    Poor kiyani behaving like deaf and dumb Shaha Iran that what is actually impression of this army ruled by three year extended COAS

  23. we cannot accept this,that a simple politician become a big wealthy man,because all politician can not give his sacrifice against terrorism.
    Politician are workings only for his benefits not for security of the country.
    If a person not ready for sacrifice of country,We can not expect more then this.
    Our life and death only for Pakistan Army.

  25. The CJP is just doing his job and he wants others to do their job as well. He is not in the habit of taking bulls…t from anyone. The Army Chief should also do his job and let the law take its own course-they have been protecting their interests for long time at the expense of taxpayer and USA aid.

  27. Habits die hard. These jackboots who are adorned with numerous medals, I do not know for what, still consider themselves as a sacred cow. They think they are beyond criticism. Whatever they utter from their mouth is a word of holy book (NauzBillah).

  28. What is their performance since they started interfering in the civilian affairs. Can they claim victory in 1965 war, 1971 war and Siachen and Kargil wars etc etc.

    • YES THEIR PERFORMANCE IS GOOD AS FAR AS THE PERFORMANCE IS CONCERNED. IN 1965 WAR…… AND 1971 WAR…. AND IN SIACHEN AND KARGIL WARS ETC ETC…… SO LOVE PAKISTAN ARMY …PAKISTAN ZINDABAD…

  29. This is the time to support judiciary. Gen. Kayani statement must be condemned. He is not authorized to issue statements.

  36. We are fully support and agree with the Statement of Pakistan Army as a common citizen .There are great best role for peace in present of our brave and sincere forces particularly Army,Airforce and Navy.
    And also we condemn the statement of Chief Justice.

  37. The people of Pakistan must vote for leaders who will amend their constitution and make Pakistan a real democracy with Army limited to borders and barracks! Haven't you lived for too long under military dictatorships? Its time to give power to the people!

  39. we cannot accept this,that a simple politician become a big wealthy man,because all politician can not give his sacrifice against terrorism.
    Politician are workings only for his benefits not for security of the country.
    If a person not ready for sacrifice of country,We can not expect more then this.
    Our life and death only for Pakistan Army.

  44. why is kiyani talking like that i mean his time period is finished he should go now why he has been given extension. army should serve govt. not instruct. Supreme court is doing its job i do not understand what is going on in these generals minds they think they control us they cannot win even small encounters with little talibans what they are good for.

  46. Look my dear country men! While we criticise any one for a specific statement 1st must try to see the overall situation therein. The political leadership, especially the ruling one, is asleep and for ALL IS WELL. As a common citizen I want my people and country to progress through any system whether democracy or dictatorship. Country is more important than SYSTEMS. To me DEMOCRACY does not suit to a country like Ours where most of the elite class comes from stinking FEUDAL system. Few families are ruling us having representationa in politics, bureaucracy, judiciary and military. So for them it is a WIN WIN GAME always and every time.

  51. Kayani will not save the Army's honour. He is determined to avoid upsetting anyone and will hence end up upsetting everyone

    • No my dear. Mr. Kayani has a great professionalism. He is a precious asset of our country Pyara Pakistan…………

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