ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP):Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday urged the nation to stand with the state and armed forces in the fight against terrorism, saying Pakistan’s security and survival must take priority over political interests.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), saying the party should not ignore its past actions while criticising the government.
He said the armed forces were making sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the provincial government must fully support their efforts.
“Our relationship with Pakistan takes precedence over all other relationships,” he said, adding that the country’s security and survival were more important than political interests.
Khawaja Asif said terrorists had killed innocent people, including children, and stressed that all political parties must unite to defeat them.
Referring to negotiations between the government and the PTI, the defence minister said the government had shown flexibility to make the talks successful, but the process had failed to produce an agreement.
He claimed that some matters agreed upon during the negotiations were later challenged by the PTI leadership. He also alleged that a party leader who was in hiding had played a role in decisions related to the talks.
Asif said the country should focus on fighting terrorism instead of making the release of a political leader the main issue.
He recalled that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also been imprisoned during the PTI government.
He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had continued its political activities despite the imprisonment of its leaders and had not made their release the sole focus of its politics.
The defence minister also questioned the PTI’s performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the party should explain its record on governance and public services after remaining in power in the province for several years.
He said the government and political parties should take responsibility for their past mistakes instead of blaming others.
Khawaja Asif stressed that the armed forces needed the full support of the civilian government and the public to defeat terrorism.
He said political differences should not weaken the country’s efforts to restore peace, adding that Pakistan’s security and national interests must come before political rivalries and personal loyalties
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
