PM pats army’s back in debate over martyrdom

As a controversy rages in the country over who is a martyr, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that those who have laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism would be remembered forever.
“The Pakistani nation holds the army in the highest esteem as they have always shown professional excellence in times of war and peace,” Prime Minister Sharif said while visiting the Army General Head Quarters here.
According to an official statement, while meeting Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani and principal staff officers, the prime minister said, “Those who have fought for Pakistan, the ghazi (living) and shaheed (martyr), have sacrificed their today for ensuring a better tomorrow.”
Each soldier enters the battlefield with the passion to lay down his life for the country and with the desire of attaining martyrdom, he said, adding that it was this passion and high morale that was the biggest strength of the armed forces.
Sharif said that being a peaceful and democratic country‚ Pakistan wanted peace across the globe. “A strong defence is imperative for stability of democracy. The day is not far off when Pakistan will be known as a peaceful and developed country on the world’s map,” he told the army top brass.
The premier was also briefed on the operational environment, the spectrum of threat, national security issues, and contributions of the army in nation building, support to civil administration in law and order situations and natural calamities.
The army also gave its input about the prospects of peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in wake of Mullah Fazlullah’s appointment as the new chief of the terror outfit.
This was Sharif’s first visit to the military headquarters after 14 years and assuming the office of prime minister in June this year. He was accompanied by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.