Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday strongly condemned remarks made by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai regarding the Pakistan Army, terming them “irresponsible” and inappropriate.
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Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif said Achakzai had described the Pakistan Army as “an army of four districts,” a statement he said was deeply regrettable. “This is not something one would expect from Mahmood Khan Achakzai. His statement has caused distress,” the minister remarked.
Asif acknowledged that Achakzai was entitled to his political opinions but urged him to refrain from targeting state institutions. “The Pakistan Army does not belong to any single province or district. In the ongoing war against terrorism, we are suffering losses daily. Over 200 terrorists have been eliminated in Balochistan alone,” he said.
The defence minister emphasized that Islam does not permit bloodshed and paid tribute to security personnel who, he said, were sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. “Our soldiers uphold their oath with their blood. We politicians may change parties, but our martyrs never changed their loyalties,” he added.
Highlighting the national nature of the fight against terrorism, Asif said violence against individuals based on identity, including the killing of Punjabi labourers, should not be politicized. “Claiming that the army belongs to only four districts is a highly irresponsible statement and unworthy of this House. This is a war for the entire nation, not for any single district,” he asserted.
