Shehbaz Sharif praises Army’s efforts in war and flood calamity,
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that those trying to draw a wedge between masses and armed forces of the country are not loyal to Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting of federal cabinet to discuss future strategy over PTI Chief Imran Khan’s anti-army statements. Interior Minister briefed the cabinet over possible legal action that could be initiated against the former premier Imran Khan.
Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday, while reacting to the statement of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, said that the attempt to make the senior leadership of the Pakistan Army controversial is regrettable.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ISPR said that the attempt to make the senior leadership of the Pakistan Army controversial at a critical time is very regrettable. “Pakistan Army is sacrificing lives every day for the security and safety of the nation,” it said.
At his rally in Faisalabad on Sunday, the PTI Chief alleged that Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari wanted to appoint the army chief of their choice because if a “strong and patriotic army chief” is appointed, they would be questioned about their loot.
The statement further said there is deep anger in the Pakistan Army over the defamatory and extremely unnecessary statement. The attempt to make the senior leadership of the Pakistan Army controversial at a critical time is very sad.
“It is neither in the interest of Pakistan nor in the interest of the Pakistan Army to make the method of appointment of the Army Chief controversial, adding that the Pakistan Army is committed to the supremacy of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the ISPR added.
Meanwhile entire nation salutes its Ghazis and martyrs who have defeated Pakistan’s enemy who was four times bigger than it, population-wise, economically and militarily,
He was addressing a ceremony held to celebrate the Defence and Martyrs’ Day in Islamabad on Tuesday. The premier said that our Army was able to crush enemy because of their firm faith and determination.
Appreciating Army’s efforts in country’s flood-hit areas, he said that both Army and the entire nation are working together in the rescue and relief efforts.
He said floods have united people in the same way as we had seen spirit of togetherness in the war of Sept 6, 1965 when there was no Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pathan. Everyone is putting his effort to mitigate losses of floods in an unprecedented way, he said adding that the country had never faced a calamity of such magnitude in its entire history. “Everyone including people, federal and provincial governments and Armed forces are battling with this natural catastrophe by creating a united front,” he added.
In his address, premier remembered and paid tribute to the six Army officials including Commander 12 Corps who embraced martyrdom during Army aviation helicopter crash which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan on Aug 2.
He also paid glowing tributes to the heroes of Sept 6 war including Maj Shaheed Aziz Bhatti, Maj Shabbir Shaheed, squadron leader Sarfraz Rafiqui, Maj Mohummad Ziauddin and others.
In end, PM Shehbaz hoped that Pakistan would attain dignity and high stature in comity of nation.
