RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor has termed the Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement about Pakistan army “irresponsible and unfounded”.
On December 19, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Jawed Bajwa briefed the Senate Committee of the Whole House on national security, making an unprecedented move in the history of the Country.
Later in a statement he made in Lahore on December 24, Saad Rafique though commanded the COAS for his unequivocal support for the democratic system, and described his briefing in the Senate Committee “a significant event”. But the minister said that some elements in Pakistan army were yet involved in conspiracy against the democratic system of the Country.
During a media briefing over the matters of national security in Rawalpindi on Thursday afternoon, the director general ISPR said Saad Rafique’s statement regarding the role of army was highly irresponsible. He said his statement was also a violation of the Constitution.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan army was a discipline organization, and all its personnel looked to the COAS.
When asked to comment on a statement of former dictator and former COAS of Pakistan Army Gen Musharraf who said that “rogue elements” in Pakistan Govt might have killed former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, DGISPR stated that “there are (were) no rogue elements in Pakistan Army”. He stated that former COAS of Pakistan Army Gen Musharraf was responsible for his statement and he (Gen Ghafoor) would not comment further.
Major General Asif Ghafoor said if there was any conspiracy being hatched against democracy and Country’s parliamentary system, evidences must be brought forward about that.
The director general ISPR further said if we themselves demonstrated responsibility, no one could make us irresponsible.
