Khawaja Muhammad Asif. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is considering taking away the additional charge of the Ministry of Defence from Khawaja Muhammad Asif, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Asif, who hold the portfolios for both defence, and water and power, has found himself at the centre of a controversy following his remarks on former president Pervez Musharraf’s treason trial.
Although the army has not officially demanded Asif’s removal as defence minister, insiders say there is a growing feeling within the military that his presence may not auger well for a ‘smooth’ civil-military relationship.
“Naturally, it is not easy for the army to work with a defence minister who is making such unwarranted statements,” a security official told The Express Tribune while requesting anonymity. “It is up to the government to take a decision [though]… we have not demanded or asked for his removal,” he added, however.
According to official sources, the prime minister has been making efforts to pacify the growing anger within the army over certain remarks made by his cabinet members. In addition to assuring the top military leadership that his government has no plans to discredit the army, the premier is contemplating taking away the largely ceremonial portfolio of defence from Asif, they said.
The sources added that Prime Minister Nawaz is likely to keep the defence ministry’s charge to himself or may give it to the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who is believed to enjoy good ties with the military leadership.
The premier will take a final decision after taking into account the likely negative fallout of such a move – which may be interpreted as the government succumbing to military pressure – according to the sources.
Despite repeated attempts, Khawaja Asif was not available for comments.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2014.
COMMENTS (73)
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This is totally abstruse and esoteric that why our yesterday's people's elected corrupt,immature and inexperienced politicians forget this harsh reality that in Pakistan only army's supported governments can complete its tenure and army can never afford any criticism against it and against any if its key officers either retired or in-service and history has proven it and why do they forget it in the addiction of power and mandate that army's powers and mandates are much stronger than democratic mandates and powers in Pakistan?Long live Pakistan Army.....
it's simply amazing that no dignity was hurt when US marines landed in the heart of Pakistan's military region and conducted their operation without any resistance!! neither no one resigned from their posts that entail precious real estate rewards
@Ahmed Ali Khan: What about General Yahya and General Niazi the two main characters of breakup of the country. What about General Ayub giving away Pakistan's rivers to India for a few million rupees? What about General Zia losing Siachen Glacier to India and saying not even grass grows there?" What about General Musharraf losing Kargil War to put Pakistan in a weak position on Kashmir forever? What about American marines operating in Abbotabad to the shame of the country??? Is this you call safeguarding the country?
@Nida Alvi: Even after taking the degree from where ever, Asif khawaja did not learn anything.................... Who verified that degree by the way................?
It is shame for him maligning brave forces of Pakistan. Why dont they look into their own corruption?
any anti Pakistan and anti consititutional action by any force must be condemned. kA is right.@Pakistani Patriot:
political leaders can go to streets any time, but just set Musharaf free on any road for 10 minutes and you will see justice is done, within few minutes. @hmm:
@Bob: hmm... and 12th May massacre in the country and great general's fist waving to the people of Pakistan as his demonstration of power did not hurt anybody's feelings ?? Interesting indeed
Hey did someone resign form their posts at the time of US marines operation in the heart of the military garrison city of abbotabad !!?? or was that perhaps not an infringement on the concept of "dignity"
@Kalashwala.: I salute your ignorance about the academic qualification of Khawaja Muhammad Asif. For your kind information, he is Master in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE) - the most prestigious institution in economics across the world. His qualification is far better than the qualification of former dictator Musharraf and all his cronies hiding behind military. Better check the credentials before you propagate false information on the social media!
@Khan: your observation is laughable at its best. A person holding more than 1 Ministry is infact saving to the nation with reduction in security and protocol expenses. Your corruption-mania has nothing to do with it. The 18th Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan also restricts the number of Ministers. Hence logical to hold more than 1 portfolio. Kh Asif is doing equally good in reducing the loadshedding (caused since Musharraf's Rental Policy of July 2006) and defending the Military in the missing persons case.
It is amazing that political party which was so sensitive about any negative remarks about judiciary is now openly bashing army
@Sara Khan: ohh really???Can u plz state the percentage of that so called MOST of the budget spent on military expenditure?
@ Muslim Leaguer: Just in case you are not aware, there are some limits to freedom of speech; like you don't shout " Fire " in a crowded theatre. The Defense Minister of a country does not publicly ridicule the very department his job is to manage and offer encouragement to. No one in his right mind, let alone a Defense Minister would demoralise the armed forces of his country. I believe he deserves more than a change in his portfolio; he should be fired.
@Turbo: What were Ayub, Yahya, Zia and Musharrafs qualifications? Look at your neighbors, India look where they stand with a vibrant democracy and a military that is strong, cut Pak into 2, never allowed us to set foot in Kashmir and beat us in 1965 in barracks and defend the homeland! Our could never do both!
This is just talk. Nawaz will not take the defense portfolio from Asif. keep in mind Asif said what he said , but it was all with Nawaz's approval.
I hate dictators, and their cronies but like, not all political workers are bad, similarly not all military man are to be blamed for the actions of the few. Dictator Mushraf must face courts, but this should not be an excuse to malign our Army and Jawans who laid down their lives to protect us. During floods and drought in Sindh, they were the first to come and help. We must honor them. Remember! We dont need confrontation between institutions, it will only cheer up enemies of this country. For development and progress, we need unity among all institutions and political ruling class. Else we are heading fast towards disastrous situation.
@Rizwan:
Don't worry about a war with India. In the event there is one, the same generals would be begging a civilian PM to travel to Washington D.C. on 4th of July and request Uncle Sam to save their hide.
@Sara Khan: Madam, for god sake learn the facts. 55% of Pakistan's budget is spent on debt servicing. 23% on defence. Get out of this mindset of regurgitating what you hear from others. Learn to read on your own. The national budget is published every year and you can clearly see what is being spent on defence and it is certainly not the largest chunk by any means. You folks must be blind or worse pathetic haters of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
The debt servicing, thanks to the lavish borrowing by all Pakistani governments, have resulted in an expense that is twice what we spend on defence.
@Ahmed Ali Khan: Define country? A piece of land with no inhabitant? Or fellow people sharing a common goal living harmoniously in a piece of land? The former is the definition used by the Pakistan Army and was displayed in 1970. Latter is used by the democrats. You pick yours.
@Farco-cracy:
According to constitution anybody bad mouthing army/judiciary in the parliament have to leave the parliament seat. I am wondering when both the Khawjas will leave the parliament seat.
@kamran Khan:
Generals are there to safeguard the country and not to break the country. If they break the constitution it is for saving the country too. Politicians of Pakistan are only there to safeguard their interests and to looted the tax payers money so that they can use for next election. If the politicians become bande de putur then nothing will harm them. There are certain politicians who are clean and nothing will happen to them.
@Rizwan: Rizwan dear do not worry India will never invade Pakistan because we know that Pakistan is a nuclear state.Live peacefully and progress in all fields and also let India prosprous.
Regardless of your/our opinion about PML-N, the fact of the matter is whatever Mr. Asif is saying is the truth. Majority of Pakistan's budget is spent on the army and they don't deserve it.
Truth will prevail in history books....
@Ali S: It is very rudimentary. No smart country wants to openly criticise its military and undermine the very force that is supposed to protect it. In all developed countries no one even in the opposition criticizes its military much less the govt itself. Any differences are managed in closed meetings. Public in large can do what they want, but any political or govt office bearer should not engage in undermining its forces.
Highly speculative article with absolutely nothing concrete in it... Pathetic journalism!
@Nida Alvi: Oh yeah? What about the politicians who loot and plunder the wealth of Pakistan? Just in 6 years of democracy, Pakistan has suffered more than what it had during military rule.
Khawaja Asif needs to go. Anyone who made those comments about their forces, no matter how long ago, does not deserve to be the defense minister. Moreover, Nawas Sharif only made him the defense minister in an emergency to avoid appearing in the supreme court when the Supreme Court required the defence minister to appear before it. He had no intention of using Khawaja Asif as defense minister. Such is the level of non-seriousness in this govt.
@Nida Alvi: I don't know what world of facts and figures you live in. Does Khawaja Asif look like a tortured and grieved person in that video from 2006? If he was so persecuted as you claim would he have have been making a speech in the national assembly? Just the fact that he made that incindiary speech in 2006 when Musharraf was in power proves your claims worng. That speech itself broke the law, but was he prosecuted then? He should have been and thrown on jail for 30 years so we would not be dealing with him now.
all those talking about "democracy" need to go on the streets, you'll know what people really think about this farce of a system. what people really want is a system of justice & equality, be it under dictatorship or democracy, unfortunately our so called intellectuals & leaders are more interested in the word than what the system needs to do for its people.
@salim:
Oh wow! So a guy standing up to the corrupt and powerful military establishment is bound to invite Article 6 but the same military establishment is to be garlanded, worshipped and showered with adulation when it throws away elected public representatives, scales the wall of PM house and PTV like two bit thugs and tortures public representatives under close supervision of serving army officers.
@Mohammad: Sorry man they are the product of '35 pantures'
Democracy does not allow Federal Ministers like Khwaja Asif and Saad Rafiq to malign Army at times when the State is confronted with existential from within and outside.These Kashmiri guys should respect the national feelings.
Khawaja Sahib, you will live in our hearts forever. These portfolios are temporary things, reputation lives forever.
His past and present statements/comments must be bunched together to make an assessment. His 2006 speech in the assembly was definitely an invitation to article 6,
Although I agree that the Musharraf bashing is completely uncalled for, it's weird how the military seems to be above any and all criticism.
@Turbo: apart from all others, his best qualification is that he has the will of the people of Pakistan and therefore, has been lawfully elected by them and sent to the assembly to serve their country...
The statement during the budget session in the National Assembly during 2006 was the grievance & torture Mr Khawaja Asif had suffered in the hands of a few cronies of Musharraf. His statement was against a gang of Generals (including Musharraf) who had looted (NLC, Railway, DHA) and ruined the country but nobody could dare speak up! The freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.
@Usman Lakhani: Musharraf plus all previous military dictators were most comfortable with the most corrupt politicians because they were the easiest to blackmail/manipulate. No general ever came to save the nation, "sab apna ulloo seedha karnay aye they". However, the Army fan club will continue to present them as saviors, messiahs, angels, etc.
generals always take refuge behind soldiers sacrifices
if removal of Khawaja Asif sustain the presure on Mushraf not ot leave country then Removal not big deal.
Intermediate passed paunchy man with white hair need to go. Find another ministry from his master Nawaz.
@Bob: "Hurting the sentiments" is a very brave expression. For example, he might have hurt your sentiments by saying those words against Pervaiz Musharraf while could have hurt mine by not saying anything on the issue. We simply cannot define the sentiments. It is politics and being a politician or supporters of certain politicians, we should all keep our hearts and heads open to criticism.
This is Pakistan. 180 million people and single persons holding 2 ministrys. Corruption at it's best.
And vice versa ! @S. Sami:
So a democratic leader, minister of defence has to resign because he displeased the powerful estab that's under him. This just confirms who's under and who's over, ruling the roast behind the scenes.
The step will show the fear of Government A government shouldn't have any fear except losing the people trust.... NS government is totally opposite
Democracy means respect the 49‰ and not to loots the people's money by both hands
@S. Sami: And vice versa. The military are the ones who sacrifice their lives, while the civilian leadership and politician enjoy the perks and salaries. Just like Israel, In Pakistan too everyone should serve some time in the army.
Interesting to see how these corrupt politicians most of whom got into assemblies via rigging feel at ease when pointing fingers at the defenders of Pakistan. Musharraf should definitely be punished for letting them get away freely!
It will be a pity if he is made to resign. Military will gain ground, while politicians will lose.
@ Ali Raza Zaidi grow up please. You have a right to say anything in a Democracy as long as the thing is based on a fact and does not offend anyone's sentiments.
well what are his qualifications anyway to hold the ministry of defense and the ministry of water and power?
Why should he lose his portfolio? If it is a democracy, he has every right to express whatever he feels about anything. I stand with Khawaja Asif on this issue as a democrat.
Lose lips always slips in democracy,in Pakistan. Every one should respect all institutions in the country.
democracy is supreme losers must respect
Politicians and journalists lose their jobs and lives over "controversial" statements. Generals remain sacred whether they break the country or constitution.
If for nothing else he should give up one of the major portfolios he holds purely to do justice to the defense and the water/power ministries... surely there are other people in Pakistan/PML-N who could be trusted.