RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has reaffirmed the military’s resolve to remain in its Constitutional domain and stay away from interfering into political affairs.
In his farewell speech on the Defence and Martyrs Day at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, he said that it is unfortunate that instead of welcoming this commitment, some quarters started targeting the armed forces.
The Army Chief said that in February last year, the military took a cautious and well thought decision not to interfere in political matters and we are strictly committed to this.
General Bajwa said that armed forces do not shy away from constructive criticism by the people and political parties but one should be careful in selection of words and their usage.
The COAS said that uncertainty was created in the Country through a fake and unfounded narrative and now they are trying to get away from this false narrative.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that the military leadership was dubbed with inappropriate titles. He made it clear that the military leadership can do anything but it can never go against the Country’s interest. He said that it is beyond imagination that the armed forces will sit idle against a foreign conspiracy.
In addition, he said that the elements, who want to create wedge between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan will not succeed in their nefarious designs.
The Army Chief said that we should keep Pakistan’s interest supreme as individuals and parties come and go but Pakistan will remain there forever.
General Bajwa said that now the time has come when all the stakeholders should learn from their past mistakes and move forward by setting aside their personal ego. He stressed the need for adopting a true democratic culture in Pakistan by ending the environment of intolerance.
The COAS called for unity to serve the nation and defend the motherland.
Recalling dismemberment of East Pakistan in 1971, he said that it was a political rather than a military debacle and we will not forget the sacrifices of our brave soldiers in that war.
Paying rich tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces, the Army Chief said that the morale of bereaved families of the martyrs always remains high. He assured that sacrifices of our martyrs will not go in vain.
