RAWALPINDI : The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general major general,Babar Iftilhar, has categorically declared that neither army chief , Qamar Javed Bajwa, is seeking extension in his tenure nor will he accept it .The military spokesperson said
“Army chief , general Qamar Javed Bajwa, is not interested in extension in his tenure nor will he accept it”. He maintained that the army chief will retire on November 29, 2022 on completion of his tenure.
The ISPR director general also made a very important and encouraging statement that there will be no martial law in Pakistan in the future .
The director general ISPR made these extra ordinary statements here at a press briefing held here on Thursday. This crucial statement has come from the military spokesperson at a time when an organized smear campaign has been launched by a certain section of the society to malign the military leadership and the military institution.
The military spokesperson said “A smear campaign is being run against the army and its leadership on the social media which has been noticed by the military” . He said the malicious campaign against the army was launched by some locals and later it was overtaken by foreign links run by the enemy. He said the concerned departments were investigating the matter in depth and its characters will be exposed soon. The director general said those who were behind this campaign for maligning the military institution were trying to create a gulf between the people and th e military. The DG said the armed forces will not let this smear campaign succeed against Pakistan. He asked the people not to become a party to any such malicious campaign against state institutions.
Major general Babar spoke at length at all important issues relating to recent political upheaval when the army chief and director general Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) , general Nadeen Anjum had held more than. one meetings with former prime minister , Imran Khan. He told a questioner that the claims made by BBC in its story related to the development that took place late night on April 3 2022 were a pack of lies and nothing else. He said on the request of the prime minister office the army chief played a mediator role to approach to the political parties which had moved the no confidence motion. He clarified that the military leadership had put forward three options as was claimed in the media to end the deadlock among political leadership of the country. He said the future of Pakistan lies in democracy and the military support this process vehemently
He said the military has nothing to do with politics.
On the question of former prime minister , Imran Khan, visit to Russia , the director general ISPR said the army was on Board and there was no such evaluation that Russia will launch war on Ukraine when former prime minister was in Russia. He said Russian attack on Ukraine when Pakistan’s prime minister was in Moscow was embarrassing . To another question , the director general said the security forces did not endorse the word ‘conspiracy’ in the meeting of the national security committee convened by ousted government . He said the ISI had investigated the matter and the military leadership gave its point of view on the threat letter which was on the official record.
The director general ISPR said in response to a question thet Pakistan,’s nuclear programme was supported by all past government and the concerned departments have put in place the world best control and command system of its nuclear assets . He suggested the political leader should be very careful while dwelling on nuclear assets.
He maintained that nuclear programme of Pakistan is not an asset of a particular political party rather it is a national assets .