Panamagate verdict will be acceptable to us: DG ISPR

Maj Gen Ghafoor says allowing Gen Raheel to lead the Saudi alliance was the state’s decision

The Supreme Court’s verdict on the Panamagate case will be acceptable to the army, Radio Pakistan quoted the military’s top spokesman as saying on Wednesday.

Interacting with the British media during a trip to the UK, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor also said allowing former army chief Gen (retd) Raheel Sharif to lead the military alliance of 41 Muslim nations announced by Saudi Arabia was the decision of the state.


“Saudi Arabia had requested Pakistan to allow Raheel Sharif to head the military alliance while he was still serving as the army chief,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said, adding that Gen Raheel’s appointment would serve as bridge to bring participating countries closer.

“Pakistan wants good relations with India, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran and does not want any tension in the region,” the ISPR chief said. “Be it Afghanistan or India, Pakistan does not believe in proxy war. Pakistan wants good relations with them,” he added.

The statement comes days after Iran voiced its concerns over Islamabad’s decision to give greenlight to General (retd) Raheel Sharif to lead the multi-nation coalition.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor also underscored the progress under its new anti-terror operations Raddul Fassad and added that the government was working on madrassas reforms.