News
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Kayani wants continuity of democratic system* Army chief says state institutions should function within constitutional limits
* Forces will work according to any national policy to protect country’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Monday declared support for democratic system and said that the country’s development and welfare depended on state institutions functioning within their constitutional limits.
The country’s constitution has “clearly defined the responsibilities and functions of national institutions” and it was incumbent on them “to perform their duties with constitutional limits”, Kayani said while addressing an event to mark the army’s Youm-e-Shuhada (day of martyrs).
In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s conviction by the Supreme Court for refusing to act on orders to revive graft cases against President Asif Zardari, the army chief said the prime objective of the democratic system was “to ensure the welfare, happiness and increased dignity of the people and the establishment of a balanced society where every person can get justice equally”.
“This is the only way which can further strengthen Pakistan’s national security,” he said during the late night ceremony to honour soldiers killed in the line of duty while fighting terrorists. The army, he said, believed in a “strong democratic system and its continuation”.
At the same time, Kayani touched on the national security situation and said Pakistan was “still in a state of war” despite unprecedented sacrifices made by the people and security forces in the campaign against terrorists and extremists.
The Pakistan Army, the Frontier Corps, the Pakistan Rangers and police had “achieved successes in many difficult areas while fighting against extremists and terrorists” while the people’s sacrifices and steadfastness had boosted the morale of the armed forces.
“I am hopeful that we will emerge from this stage victorious with the help and prayers of the nation. We would be successful when we have a strong belief in the ideology of Pakistan. Any doubt about this ideology would weaken the country,” Kayani told a gathering that included top military officials, defence attaches from various countries, ministers and relatives of the killed soldiers.
The army chief also referred to the unilateral American raid in Abbottabad that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and a cross-border NATO air strike at Salala Checkpost that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead in November last year and said “some foreign elements had launched a campaign of mistrust” despite the sacrifices made by the Pakistani people and armed forces”.
“This campaign pushed the entire nation into a psychological crisis and forced the nation to review relations with others,” he said. “We think that others will have to keep in mind our sovereignty, pride and honour,” the army chief added.
“While keeping the people’s aspiration in mind, the armed forces will work according to any national policy forged through consensus to protect the country’s sovereignty and honour,” the country’s top soldier said. online
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk