ISLAMABAD: Following the Pakistan Army’s strong reaction to Imran Khan’s statement over appointment of the army chief, PTI secretary general Asad Umar on Monday clarified that the statement did not mean to cause any harm to the institution.
Taking to Twitter, the former planning minister said that the context of Khan’s statement yesterday regarding the appointment of the chief of army staff (COAS) has already been clarified earlier.
“There was never an intent to cause harm to the reputation of the institution or its senior leadership,” he added.
The former minister said that the party and its chairman have always appreciated the “professionalism and sacrifices” of the army personnel.
“The emphasis on upholding the principle of merit is consistent with the desire to protect the professionalism of the force which provides security to the nation,” he wrote on Twitter.
The context of statement given by Chairman Imran Khan yesterday regarding appointment of COAS has already been clarified earlier. There was never an intent to cause harm to the reputation of the institution or its senior leadership.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) September 5, 2022
Speaking during a public rally in Faisalabad on Sunday, the PTI chairman called out the government, saying that it was delaying the elections to appoint an army chief of its own and that if a “patriotic chief of army staff comes in, he will not spare the incumbent rulers.”
On Monday, the Pakistani Army expressed displeasure over Khan’s recent statement against the military and said it was “aghast” over it.
