RAWALPINDI: Making a response to a question during his presser on Thursday, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said Khawaja Saad Rafique’s remarks about civil-military administration were irresponsible and unwarranted.
“The statement by the minister ‘doesn’t appear to be unintended’,” the DG ISPR said.
Maj Gen Ghafoor said the statement intended to target the chain of command and the subordination system of Pakistan Army.
Earlier on Dec 23, Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique hailed appearance of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa before the legislators in upper house of the parliament while stating it was a confidence-boosting move for everyone as army chief talked in favour of democratic norms and continuity.
“The minister’s statement was taken with concern,” Gen Ghafoor said.
“Pakistan Army is well disciplined and organized institution which takes pride in its institutional mechanism,” he asserted.
“There are some institutions which are also protected by the Constitution,” the military spokesperson said, adding, the minister’s statement also violates the Constitution.
He wrapped up his press conference while saying: “If the Army is determined and confident to stay within the bounds of the Constitution, it becomes responsibility of every citizen to respect the law and stay within the constitution’s bounds.”
It merits highlighting here that Rafique in a ceremony marking his father’s anniversary said that Gen Bajwa’s appearance before senators on Dec 19 was a confidence-boosting move as he upheld the democratic norms and continuity in his speech.
However, Rafique then said others should also come forward to support the army chief’s stance on whom ‘his command is applied to’.
“They should also follow the order,” the minister then said.
