Khawaja Asif Credits Military for Defence and Diplomatic Successes, Criticises Fazlur Rehman’s Politics
SIALKOT:Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has credited Pakistan’s military institutions with the country’s defence, economic and diplomatic achievements, saying that civilian governments had no role in the successes associated with Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and diplomatic engagements with Iran, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Addressing a gathering in Sialkot, the defence minister said the achievements had been made possible by the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces, adding that the nation’s martyrs had written this history with their blood.
He said thousands of personnel had sacrificed their lives for the defence of the country and its future generations, questioning whether these sacrifices could be compared with anything else.
Khawaja Asif said the sacrifices made for Pakistan’s security represented an investment in the future of the country and the children of its people.
Referring to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the defence minister criticised what he described as political manoeuvring driven by personal interests.
He recalled that when he used to criticise former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, Maulana Fazlur Rehman had stood alongside Musharraf because the latter was directly in power at the time.
Khawaja Asif also alleged that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been made opposition leader despite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) having stronger claims to genuine opposition representation.
Commenting on changing political alliances, he pointed out that some political leaders had previously criticised Maulana Fazlur Rehman but were now describing his support as fortunate.
The defence minister said, with regret, that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was leading what he termed political manoeuvring, urging politicians to abandon politics based on personal interests.
He further claimed that when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was removed, the PML-N had favoured holding immediate elections. However, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other political parties had opposed the proposal.
Khawaja Asif also referred to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s role in the former government, saying that he had expected to benefit from the government’s opportunities but that the political situation had subsequently changed.
The defence minister concluded by saying that Pakistan’s political leadership should learn from the armed forces’ leadership in defence and diplomacy. He specifically referred to engagements involving Iran, the United States and Saudi Arabia, crediting Field Marshal Asim Munir with leading efforts that, according to him, had resulted in diplomatic and defence successes.
