- COAS Gen Bajwa paid tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces
- The army chief reaffirmed to stay away from interfering in political affairs
- He said the dismemberment of East Pakistan in 1971 was a political debacle
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces and assured their families that Pakistan Army will never them alone.
The army chief was addressing the Defence and Martyrs’ Day ceremony at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The ceremony was postponed in September in solidarity with flood victims. The ceremony was attended by serving and retired military officials at the GHQ.
General Bajwa apologized for the delay in the Defence and Martyrs’ Day ceremony due to the floods. He reaffirmed the military’s resolve to remain in its constitutional domain and stay away from interfering in political affairs.
He said it is unfortunate that instead of welcoming this commitment, some quarters started targeting the armed forces. The army chief said 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.
He said 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.
General Bajwa said uncertainty was created in the country through a fake and unfounded narrative and now they are trying to get away from this false narrative.
“In 2018, using RTS as an excuse the winning party was called selected,” he recalled, adding that after being ousted via a no-confidence motion, one party named the other as “imported.”
“We need to reject this attitude, winning and losing is a part of politics and all parties should have courage to accept their defeat or victory so that in next election instead of an imported or selected government an elected government is formed,” he maintained.
He said military leadership was dubbed with inappropriate titles. He made it clear that the military leadership can do anything, but it can never go against country’s interest.
Gen Bajwa said it is beyond imagination that the armed forces will sit idle against a foreign conspiracy. He said the elements, who want to create wedge between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan will not succeed in their nefarious designs.
“We should keep Pakistan’s interest supreme as individuals and parties come and go, but Pakistan will remain there forever,” he said. He said now the time has come when all the stakeholders should learn from their past mistakes and move forward by setting aside their personal ego.
General Bajwa stressed the need for adopting a true democratic culture in Pakistan by ending the environment of intolerance. He called for unity to serve the nation and defend the motherland.
Recalling dismemberment of East Pakistan in 1971, he said it was a political rather than a military debacle and the army will not forget the sacrifices of brave soldiers in that war.
“1971 was not a military, but a political failure. Our army fought courageously in East Pakistan and made unprecedented sacrifices. The number of soldiers fighting was not 92,000 but only 34,000,” the COAS said.
Paying rich tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces, the army chief said the morale of bereaved families of the martyrs always remains high. He assured that sacrifices of our martyrs will not go in vain.
At the outset of the ceremony, a video highlighting the devastations caused by floods was played. The video paid tribute to military soldiers who contributed toward relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts during the flooding.
A documentary titled ‘Falah-o-Behbood’ was also played highlighting the military’s efforts for the welfare of its soldiers and their families.
This is General Bajwa’s last Defence and Martyrs’ day ceremony army chief. It comes days before he is set to retire from the post of Chief of Army Staff on November 29.
