Pakistan

Army chief calls for 'across-the-board accountability' in veiled reference to Panama leaks

General Raheel says war against terrorism cannot bring enduring peace unless corruption is uprooted

News Desk April 19, 2016

PHOTO: ISPR

In a veiled reference to the Panama Papers saga, army chief General Raheel Sharif has stressed on the need for an “across-the-board accountability" and for corruption to be uprooted to ensure the nation's prosperity.

“Across-the-board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan. Pakistan’s armed forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction, which would ensure a better future for our next generations,” General Raheel said during his visit to the Signal Regimental Centre in Kohat on Tuesday.

“The ongoing war against terrorism and extremism being fought with the backing of entire nation cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is uprooted,” the army chief upheld.

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The statement comes in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations shrouding the prime minister's family among many other prominent political figures holding off-shore wealth.

Around 220 Pakistanis, including three children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have been named in the massive leak of documents from a Panama-based law firm.

Prime Minister Nawaz has rejected any allegations of money laundering, claiming that his children have legitimate businesses abroad, and has called for the establishment of an inquiry commission.

Meanwhile, during his visit to Kohat, the army chief interacted with officers, men and families of those killed in terrorist attacks.

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General Raheel commended the extraordinary efforts of ranks of Signals Corps in providing communication support to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

He also appreciated the sacrifices rendered both by men in uniform and civilians alike in defeating the terrorists and dislodging them from their bases.

Earlier, General Raheel pinned the badges of rank on the shoulders of Major General Sohail Ahmed Zaidi, Singnal-in-Chief to formally install him Colonel Commandant of Corps of Signal. He also laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and offered Fateha.

COMMENTS (38)

ashraf ali | 8 years ago | Reply well done COAS required this in all area of govt.

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Someone's hurt and that too badly..

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Shamail | 8 years ago | Reply General Raheel Sharif should also noticed of the corruption by everyone from bureaucracy to Judiciary, Military to Politician, otherwise the corruption can not be eroded.

Aafiyat Nazar | 8 years ago | Reply Does "across the board accountability" include Gen (r) Musharaff and Aslam like people???

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply General sahab. please take over. Your martial law is a 100 times better than this pretend democracy. A leader that always hides in his palace, goes out on tours when there is a calamity in country, falls ill whenever there is an accusation on him but really is out shopping instead. General Raheel, it is your duty to protect this country from internal and external threats, not just a favor anymore. Our Supreme court as already sold its soul making excuses and now only you are left that can fix this nation up.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply It is more than obvious that left to itself, the PML-N which is itself a culprit, is unlikely to create a body which would do across the board accountability. And for the same reason, any body created with consensus among political parties and even any parliamentary initiative is unlikely to be in a position to do the job because of ‘conflict of interest’. which is the mildest way of putting it. However, the PML-N government seems to be bent upon neutralizing the move through a Model Town like Commission which swept things under the carpet and gave a clean chit to PML-N leaders. In these circumstances, General Raheeel’s statement “Across-the-board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan. Pakistan’s armed forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction, which would ensure a better future for our next generations” is most welcome and quite reassuring. Perhaps the only way to get meaningful accountability done would be for the public to come out and protest in large number, maybe led by Imran Khan, and perhaps also by Dr. Tahirul Qadri who has a large, and very committed following. Pressure built by massive public protests, with a bit of help from ‘you-know-who’ is the only way to get the job done satisfactorily. And while talking about across the board accountability, I would think ‘across the board’ term would sound more convincing if applied also to Karachi where , as alleged, efforts seem to be underway to re-cycle MQM to create a favourite, and compliant product, which also amounts to corruption and abuse of power. It also is a needless over-kill while it also displays utter disregard of public mandate. Karachi

Ali. I | 8 years ago | Reply The culprits and their paid keyboard trolls have been paranoyed by RS statement. Accountability can be started with the power of morality and morality doesn't exist in our politicians especially in ruling party. The king has never accepted that he left the country with his family along with personal servants after an agreement with than dictator while the agreement was flashing on tv screens. I really don't know how he will accept the ownership of these offshore companies?? We want accountability of every general,politician,beaurocrate and businessman who looted from us. I'm sure a PM who register offshore companies with millions of dollars in Panama while paid 472 PKR tax in Pakistan can't do it.

freed | 8 years ago | Reply He did say "across the board" some people dont know what that means judging from some of these comments. Everyone should be help accountable for corruption and start with the biggest fishes to send the message to rest of the country.

Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply Thank you very much General Raheel Sharif, we all Pakistani are proud of you we also stand with you, please take strongest action against Nawaz and Zardari specifically Nawaz Sharif family they theft Pakistan money by offshore companies General Raheel Sharif Zindabad the nation proud of you

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply With corrupt folks, include anarchists who have damaged economy worth billions, fake revolutionary thugs who have destroyed peace for months, doctors who issued fake medical certificates to dictators, generals and judges who abrogate constitution and brave ones who murder our poor countrymen.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @sabi: He will never meddle in political affairs but will assist pmln to crush the real culprits He is trained as a soldier not to think or question why but to do what he is told and die........ Rex Minor

Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply Great idea general. Lets have an audit of the defence budget and an account of where the billions of dollars given by the USA for war on terrorism actually went. Lets see where Musharraf got so much money from and who funds the media.

nasser | 8 years ago | Reply @shaz: You didn't get the point raised by MUNIB. He is clearly saying that government servant should not speak against corruption.after all its the government servants who are most corrupt and if they start raising voices economy of PANAMA will dwindle.

leela4fun | 8 years ago | Reply The emperor has spoken!

Blithe | 8 years ago | Reply Laughable statement who had done zero accountability within the corrupt army

Lookinside | 8 years ago | Reply Spot on General! But remember, charity begins at home......Lets start with Kiyani and backwards....

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply Across the board accountability by all means but let there be no sacred cows. Extend NAB to both civil and military. If PWD is to be probed, so should be MES and CWO. A holier-than-thou hypocrisy has plagued this country for too long.

Raees Ahmad | 8 years ago | Reply Without discrimination of civilian and someone from either military or judiciary.

shaz | 8 years ago | Reply @MUNIB: well to clarify he has taken an oath to defend the country from both foreign and domestic threats. Being a govt employee does not or should not make you an individual with out a soul. And for the rest of you that are saying start from here start from there your political elite won't start from any where for me a start is a start irrespective of where it starts. You guys want things to happen instantly all these corrupt politicians have spent decades in corrupting the system and also the public it will take a few years for things to get better.

socialist | 8 years ago | Reply @Nadeem: i have done a complete research on okara forms issue. Okara farms belongs to army as Britishers handed over to army. see what bahria town mastermind doing with the help of police.

hamza khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Nadir: those can be done simultaneously, and the army has a modus operandi to deal with corruption within its own ranks. the politicians are not being victimized, something i hear from you on these pages a lot. get a grip of reality. no one is saying army is guiltlesss but the level of corruption in civilian areas far exceeds anything army is doing...thats a reality.

Nadeem | 8 years ago | Reply Let's begin with Okara farms, General.

Lohaar Sharif | 8 years ago | Reply I doubt he will ever be impeached. Stakes are too high in all aspects.

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Nadir, I think common sense suggests that the prime minister of the nation involved in such scams should be dealt with first!

Brainy Bhaijan | 8 years ago | Reply Tune to PTV for "Meray Aziz Humwatanoon" soon. By the way, the generals of Pakistan, who break the constitution are immune to scrutiny.

Feroz | 8 years ago | Reply Only in Pakistan can a public servant on the peoples payroll make such a statement. We have to lump it from an Institution that is funded by Taxpayers, but refuses to get itself audited. No accountability for murdering the Constitution and imposing dictatorship, no accountability for the thousands of citizens gone missing or summarily knocked off in real or fake encounters ? The list is very long but my point is made.

sabi | 8 years ago | Reply Its not the general but the mindset that worship dictators, putting its words in his mouth. The general has completely submitted to the law of the land. He will never meddle in political affairs but will assist pmln to crush the real culprits. They are fake ideologist.

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply With the armed forces the largest employer in the country with vast holdings in real estate and numerous other industries, it is difficult to imagine that certain elements within are not corruption-free. Nonetheless better to start the purge somewhere, so start with the politicians masquerading as champions of development and democracy yet who shamelessly line their pockets while lying with pious expressions on their faces.

Rahul | 8 years ago | Reply Have we not seen this movie before?

MUNIB | 8 years ago | Reply Why a Gov servant is making Political Statements ? Its not about who said right or who said wrong. But he just needs to stay inside his constitutional limits. As for accountability, most welcome, contest elections after retirement ( + 2 years) and win and then do as much accountability as you want.

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply The concept is great but I wonder if "across-the board" includes the military? He's never lifted a finger to find the people within the military who assisted OBL, worked hard to get Musharraf released, and he still won't allow journalist inside N Waziristan to independently assess the status of that conflict.

lkhan | 8 years ago | Reply How good for Pakistan, such a great general during such difficult and complex ties for Pakistan. If only its political leadership had realised the population is aware of and totally fed up of its inept governance, operated by openly corrupt ways. IK today is as a statesman, if I may add here. Hats off to him too. His charismatic fight against corruption is brave, and PTI's desire for an independent inquiry under the chief justice rather than a banana republic approach pursued by PMLN of the Panama leaks documents that concern this one very corrupt family amongst many, is what the citizens of Pakistan deserve. Our army chief's words today have been most heartening under such circumstances. The following days will be immensely interesting, and hope they lead to a new era......

Ali. I | 8 years ago | Reply Every sensibale Pakistsni understand that long lasting peace can only be established by uprooting corruption and nepotism. The peace is associated with good economic growth which can provide jobs to our 9 million unemployed people whom many of them have been exploited by terrorism organization running on foreign pay rolls to destabilize Pakistan. Foundation of a great Pakistan can only be laid on ruthless accountability across the board against all looters who looted from poorest of the poor and ranked up their black money in foreign accounts. It has to be started from top brass but the problem is it might derail our democracy according to these jokers.

Nadir | 8 years ago | Reply Start with DHA, NLC, Fauji Foundation, Askari, all the generals caught up in NLC, Royal Palm Golf Course, DHA Valley scandals......

Zaka | 8 years ago | Reply Please takeover.

Yakoob | 8 years ago | Reply Gen Raheel Sharifs call for transparency and good governance is to be lauded. If The esteemed General succeeds in his effort it will bring a breath of fresh air and The Awam will be indepted to him.

Salman Mansoor | 8 years ago | Reply The issue of offshore company owns by the family of Sharif is not n ordinary matter Wake Up Nation against corruption of PMLN.

Affan | 8 years ago | Reply Thank You Raheel Shareef

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