Gen Raheel chose to allay fears of media curbs

 

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif’s address to the Martyrs Day function was different in at least one important aspect from his predecessor Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s speech delivered on the similar occasion at the same venue a year back – support to the freedom of the media and responsible journalism and appreciation of journalists’ sacrifices.
This difference, emerging from a comparison of the two discourses, was obviously included in Raheel Sharif’s relatively brief remarks in view of the post-Hamid Mir assassination attempt situation. And its specific objective was to allay fears and apprehensions that the freedom of media was under threat from the Pakistan Army. His declaration will be put to test in the days to come. The independent media is optimistic that he will pass the test with flying colours.

“The media has played a key role in rallying public opinion on matters of national security. We support the freedom of the press and responsible journalism and appreciate (journalists’) sacrifices,” he said.

When he spoke about the media’s key role, he clearly talked about it in whole, without making any distinction or discrimination or excluding any group or outlet from it.

When Raheel Sharif addressed the martyrs’ day ceremony, the political atmosphere and milieu is entirely different from the one that prevailed when Kayani spoke. At the time, fresh general elections were just ten days away, and Kayani felt the dire need to assure again and again that the polls would be held on the given day. On the eve of every parliamentary polls in Pakistan, certain vested interests keep harping on the theme that the electoral exercise would not be held at all.

When the incumbent army chief chaired the martyrs’ day function, a large number of “unemployed job-seekers” have been busy for several days, drumming up the grim scenario that the democratic dispensation was about to be derailed by an unconstitutional intervention. They kept struggling hard to push Pakistan back to a dark era.

Therefore, to give a telling message to this disgruntled lot Raheel Sharif deemed it fit to reaffirm the armed forces’ commitment to ensuring the stability of democracy and supremacy of the Constitution and said that “this is the only way to cement our place among the developed nations.” He also lauded the efforts of the media and civil society towards the greater goal of nation-building.

While burning in the fire of jealousy and to buoy up their ratings and business interests at the cost of the Jang Group, some private TV channels crossed all limits of professionalism and decency in slamming the Geo. Geo’s few hours’ transmission in the wake of the murder attempt on Hamid Mir was made an excuse to hammer the outlet for over a week and to provoke the security establishment against the media house. The army chief’s statement ensuring freedom of the media to all and sundry may be an eye-opener for them as it has nailed their campaign.

Keeping in view the then prevailing environment, the COAS had to assure: the army stands committed to wholeheartedly assist and support the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections, to the best of its capabilities and remaining within the confines of the Constitution; this support will solely be aimed at strengthening democracy and rule of law; like every Pakistani the army has endeavoured to strengthen democracy in the last five years with the hope that the next elections would steer Pakistan towards betterment; now, once the destination is in sight, we must not err in fulfilling our responsibilities towards the election process; the real virtue of democracy ultimately lies in the safety and welfare of the masses.”

Raheel Sharif and Kayani gave a clear message to the militants and non-state actors in their own ways and words. “All groups must accept the writ of the State failing which the army is more than capable of dealing with threats from insurgents; the army supports all efforts to eliminate the threat of terrorism and restore peace in the country; today, we as a nation are faced with a war in which all institutions of the State are fighting alongside the armed forces, which stand for peace, but we are always ready to respond to any acts of aggression,” the incumbent army chief said.

His predecessor had said he sincerely desired that all those who have strayed and picked up arms against the nation return to the national fold. This is only possible once they unconditionally submit to the State, its Constitution and the rule of law. There is no room for doubts when it comes to dealing with rebellion against the State.

The impression spread by the out-of-job lot that Defence Minister Khawaja M Asif is a pariah in the eyes of the army after his anti-Pervez Musharraf statements was also dispelled with his presence at the martyrs’ day function. He later tweeted: “yesterday attended a very touching ceremony.... remembering the heroes who gave ultimate sacrifice, so that we can live in security & peace...”

Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who was also among the invitees, said in two tweets that attended Martyrs Day at GHQ, relaxed khaki-mufti interaction, good speech by Army Chief at moving ceremony for heroes in anti-terror fight; Martyrs Day, 5th in a row, is unique commemoration as it lauds both civilian & military martyrs + families & their sacrifices for motherland”.

Military believes in democracy, Constitution: Gen Raheel

 

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday that the armed forces of Pakistan believed in the strengthening of democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law and would render every sacrifice for the country’s security, progress and prosperity.
He said that Pakistan’s armed forces were keeping a close vigil on the internal and external challenges and were fully capable of meeting all the threats to the security of the country.Addressing a large gathering on the eve of Youm-e-Shuhada here at the GHQ, he said that the armed forces remained alert round the clock for the defence of the motherland.

“Nobody should doubt the capabilities of the Pakistan Army as it will come to the expectations of the nation,” he added.General Raheel Sharif said that the Pakistan Army would continue to play its role in ensuring the security, progress and prosperity of the country.

Stressing the need for unity to overcome the internal and external challenges confronting the country, he said that the Pakistan Army supported every effort for the eradication of terrorism and restoration of peace in the country.

While lauding the supreme sacrifices rendered by the security forces for the defence of the country, the COAS said that the nation always stood with the Pakistan Army in every difficult time.

While declaring that the Pakistan Army supported every effort for the elimination of terrorism and restoration of peace, the chief of army staff said that it was his wish that all the elements fighting against Pakistan should submit before the Constitution and laws of the country and return to the mainstream.

He made it clear that the people and the armed forces were fully capable of thwarting the nefarious designs of the enemies of the country.All nations fight shoulder-to-shoulder with their armies on the internal or external fronts and keep their spirits high, he said and added, the Pakistan Army’s strength was the confidence the people reposed in it.

“The Pakistani nation always stood behind its army and our valiant soldiers will render all sacrifices for national security,” he added.He said that the relations between the Pakistan Army and people would become stronger with every passing day.

General Raheel called for following the golden principles of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — unity, faith and discipline — to put the country on the road to progress and prosperity.He called upon all the institutions of the country to make efforts for the success of democracy and assured that the armed forces would continue their efforts for the development of the country and prosperity of the people.

Lauding the role of the media and civil society along with other institutions of the state in nation building, he said that the media always played an important role in moulding public opinion in favour of national security.

“We believe in the freedom of the media, responsible journalism and appreciate its sacrifices,” he added. Youm-e-Shuhada (Day of Martyrs) was observed to pay homage to those soldiers who had laid their lives for the cause of the motherland.

ISI’s role crucial in national security: Gen Raheel

 

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to boost the morale of the beleaguered ISI in the wake of an allegation that some of its men were involved in the murderous attack on senior Geo News anchor Hamid Mir in Karachi, army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif on Tuesday said the premier intelligence agency was a ‘strategic institution’ that had been working to protect the interests of the motherland.
Gen. Raheel visited the ISI Headquarters where its Director General Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam gave him a detailed briefing on the internal and external security situation.The army chief commended the work done by the ISI to counter both the internal and external threats to the country.

Gen Raheel was also briefed on the intelligence input being provided to the law enforcement agencies against the miscreants.The army chief said the officers and men of armed forces had rendered marvellous services for protecting national security and never hesitated to sacrifice their lives to defend the motherland.

He also discussed matters of professional interest with senior officials of the agency.Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visited Hamid Mir at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi and ordered a high-level judicial probe into the incident.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, on Monday constituted a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman, to investigate the incident.

The chief justice approved the names of three judges for the judicial commission after a formal request from the government.Journalist Amir Mir, the brother of Hamid Mir, had blamed some members of the ISI for the attack. The Inter Services Public Relations — the military mouthpiece — however was quick to regret what it called the “baseless and misleading” finger-pointing at the ISI.

During a debate in the Senate on Monday, several opposition lawmakers demanded a detailed investigation into the incident and advised against criticising the national security institutions before reaching facts. They also urged the ISI to avail itself of this opportunity to clear its name by facilitating the judicial commission in probing the incident.

A PPP stalwart and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan said though he had been critical of the ISI’s interference in the country’s political affairs, he believed no one should jump to accusations against an institution.

Aitzaz also threw light on the ISI’s role in training Mujahideen for Jihad against the then USSR in Afghanistan, Operation Midnight Jackal and its involvement in the electoral process vis-à-vis the Asghar Khan case.

“The ISI should take the allegations as a challenge and extend its assistance in the investigations,” Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Senator Nasreen Jalil said.The upper house of parliament also adopted a unanimous resolution expressing deep concern over the series of attacks on journalists and urging the government to take steps to protect them.

At the beginning of the session, reporters covering the Senate proceedings walked out from the Press Gallery to protest the attack. However, they returned after both the treasury and opposition leaders promised to constitute a committee to look into a possible legislation for the safety and protection of journalists and their rights.