Army will continue to support state institutions, Gen Bajwa reaffirms

0
288

–Corps commanders say won’t allow reversal of security gains at any cost

–Army chief calls for ‘cohesion of all stakeholders on key national issues’

 

RAWALPINDI: The military top brass on Monday put their full weight behind the state institutions, vowing that reversal of security gains would not be allowed at any cost.

The pledge was made at the 226th Corps Commanders’ Conference which met with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the military headquarters.

Addressing the senior army leadership, Gen Bajwa said that Pakistan Army as an organ of the state will continue to support national institutions as and when asked in accordance with the constitution.

“We have attained better internal security and stability through cohesive national efforts and sacrifices rendered by Pakistan’s armed forces, all national institutions and above all the nation. We shall not let it reverse to suit any vested agenda at any cost,” he said while presiding over the 226th Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters.

The military’s assurance of support to the state institutions came at a time when Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, along with all opposition parties, are encamped in the federal capital demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The firebrand cleric, while addressing his supporters on Friday, called upon the “state institutions” to stay impartial and stop supporting the Imran Khan-led government. He didn’t name any institution though.

Reacting to Fazl’s statement, ISPR chief Major General Asif Ghafoor said the Pakistani military is an impartial state institution, which always supports democratically elected governments in accordance with the Constitution. He also warned that nobody would be allowed to create chaos and instability in the country.

Meanwhile, the forum of the top generals also reviewed geo-strategic and national security environment and discussed internal security, situation along the eastern border, Line of Control (LoC) and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, said an ISPR statement.

 

The military commanders expressed firm resolve to defend the country against full spectrum threat at the meeting, it added.

Speaking on the occasion, Gen Bajwa said, “While Pakistan’s armed forces with support of national institutions and the nation are fully prepared and committed to thwart all threats including on the eastern border”. He added that the continued cohesion of all national stakeholders on key national issues is essential to defeat “inimical forces”.