Army has ‘no role’ in ongoing anti-corruption drive

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army has absolutely no role in the ongoing anti-corruption and accountability drive, Director General of the Interservices Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-gen Asif Ghafoor said.

“The army believes that democracy is the only way forward and as an institution, it has provided full support to democratic institutions,” he told media in London.

“We will work to make sure that democracy continues in Pakistan,” said Ghafoor, who is accompanying Chief of Army Staff General Qamar javed Bajwa on his visit to the United Kingdom. “Whenever the army chief talks to any foreign dignitary, we talk about Pakistan and not about the army.”

The military spokesman said the army has its own stringent mechanism of accountability and it’s the most robust and toughest. “We have our hands full on the eastern and western border; the army is having to maintain the security of the country. Army has its own stringent mechanism of accountability and it’s the most robust and toughest. It happens at various levels and no one is above accountability,” he said.

Ghafoor called on all institutions to stand by each other and work together. “Army always stands by institutions, not with individuals.”

He said the July 25 general elections were the most transparent in Pakistan’s democratic history. “People voted according to their wishes, but allegations of rigging were hurled at the armed forces of the country. If anyone has evidence of rigging then it should be brought forward. The army wants to strengthen democracy in the country.”

The July 25 polls were mired in controversy as many political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), alleged rigging after Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehrike-insaf (PTI) emerged victorious.

Later, the PTI government agreed to form a parliamentary panel to probe into the opposition parties’ claim that there was foul play behind the sudden collapse of a Result Transmission System (RTS) that was developed by the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA).

Ghafoor said the army has been ighting to eliminate terrorism for the past 15 years. He said 76,000 Pakistanis have laid down their lives for peace and stability in the country. “Today’s Pakistan is better than in the past,” he added.