RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Monday said Pakistan army was dragged into many controversies but in the end, all allegations hurled against it proved to be false and wrong.
“Armed forces should not be dragged into the election campaign,” he said while responding to a question at his Media Briefing in Rawalpindi.
The director general ISPR said that it was propagated that general or Senate elections wouldn’t let take place on time, or the elected government wouldn’t complete its tenure; however, all these assertions proved nothing but untrue.
The DG ISPR said general elections 2018 were the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and Pakistan army would play its Constitutional role if they were called to provide security for peaceful conduct of polls.
Major General Asif Ghafoor also said no directions had been issued to any media outlet. He said his Office never ever tried to dictate any media group or journalist to act according to their wishes.
In reply to a question regarding the inquiry against Lt General (retd) Asad Durrani, he said the inquiry against Asad Durrani would soon conclude, and its results would be shared with the public.
“Pakistan army does not tolerate any disciplinary violation,” the DG ISPR said reminding the media persons that Lt General (retd) Asad Durrani was prematurely retired from the service and he had also been facing a trial in the Supreme Court for political maneuver.
The DG ISPR also said Lt General (retd) Asad Durrani was not granted Non Objection Certificate (NOC) for writing a book; therefore, Pakistan army strongly reacted to his controversial comments in the book.
Talking about Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), he said they had assured Mohsin Dawar and Manzoor Pashteen for every possible support. He said Manzoor Pashteen was getting support from Afghanistan.
Raising questions about the PTM and its leadership, he said that how Manzoor Pashteen’s cap – which had come to Pakistan from Afghanistan – became suddenly famous? He said how had Manzoor Pashteen’s name changed from Manzoor Ahmad Maseed? He added 5,000 social media accounts were established in Afghanistan to promote PTM.
Furthermore, Major General Asif Ghafoor said forces did not interfere in any of Manzoor Pashteen’s gathering. He said PMT activists had been shouting anti-army slogans in Wana and the Peace Committee tried to stop them. But since its their culture, they had guns and started firing at each other, he added.
The DG ISPR said no child – as propagated in the Social Media – was killed in Wana incident. He said it was Pakistan army, which evacuated the injured and transported them to the hospital.
Earlier in the outset of his briefing, the DG ISPR told that India committed 1881 ceasefire violations in 2017 alone which left 52 dead and 254 injured. He said they responded to Indian ceasefire violations only when they had been aimed at targeting civilians.
Major General Asif Ghafoor further said war was a failure of diplomacy & both India and Pakistan were nuclear States; therefore, the stakes between them were high.
“We maintain that all doors for diplomacy and dialogue remain open with India. We strongly believe in peaceful coexistence,” he said.
The director general ISPR also said merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a historic development. He said the Army Chief had told FATA youth to support the merger for better future.
In addition, he said cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan was vital for regional peace. He said Pakistan wanted the successful exit of US forces from Afghanistan.
The DG ISPR said war was cruel and unfair, and the Pakistani nation had paid a huge price in its fight to eliminate terrorism.
“We have lost 70,000 civilians & 16,000 men in uniform but let me assure you, there will be no compromise on national security at any cost, at any point of time,” he said.
