Yesterday, Pakistan celebrated National Defense and Martyrs Day and a day before that, a statement issued by ISPR about the presence of severe anger in the Pakistan Army over Imran Khan’s controversial statement about appointment of army chief.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan said in his Twitter message yesterday that ‘’I am keeping a close eye on the propaganda being done against me by the group of criminals called PDM. They fear the popularity of PTI. My words were deliberately twisted. All will get an official reply.”
The controversial statement regarding the appointment of the Army Chief was made by Imran Khan in the Faisalabad rally on Sunday night, in which the former Prime Minister said that ‘’the new Army Chief will be appointed in November. Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif want to appoint their favorite army chief that is why PPP and PML-N do not want to hold elections.”
Imran Khan said that they are afraid that if a strong or a patriotic army chief comes, he will take action against them so they want to appoint their own army chief. This was the statement that drew a strong reaction from the PDM leadership as well as from the the ISPR.
In fact, the words used by Imran Khan as Army Chief or Patriotic Army Chief can be objected to because the position of Army Chief cannot be disputed in any way. If you are calling one army chief strong and patriot, the terms weak army chief or unpatriotic army chief will automatically come to mind.
ISPR said that the procedure for appointing the Army Chief is clearly stated in the Constitution of Pakistan. Senior politicians are trying to create controversy about it which is sad. The patriotism and professionalism of the Army’s top leadership is evident from decades of distinguished service.
On one side is Imran Khan, the most popular leader of the country, on the other side is the Pakistan Army, whose performance in the 1965 war to the ongoing anti-terrorist operation has rendered countless unforgettable services to the country, unparalleled service record and martyrdoms are our great pride.
The appointment of the Army Chief is a very sensitive matter which should not be discussed in public rallies. PTI chief had better to avoid this kind of statement in the future, especially in public gatherings.
