Statement taken out of context, claims Saad Rafique

Says those creating misunderstanding between institutions enemies of the state

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Thursday said his statement earlier regarding the army was misquoted by the media and those creating misunderstanding among institutions are enemies of the country.

Talking to a private TV channel, Saad said his statement regarding state institutions during his speech on his father's death anniversary, was taken out of context and out of the 27-minute long speech only a few words were highlighted, Radio Pakistan reported.

The minister said he is a responsible person and has never adopted non-serious and unconstitutional behavior nor targeted the institutions.

He further noted that his speech on the death anniversary of his father was about harmony among institutions to work for the betterment of the country.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations, Asif Ghafoor took strong exception to Saad Rafique's statement, who suggested that some junior army officers might not be following the orders of Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.



“It doesn’t appear to be an unintended statement. This is very irresponsible and unwarranted because you are targeting the chain of command and subordination system of the Pakistan army,” he said. “The army is a disciplined and organised institution and that on a single order of the army chief, the entire institution comes into action,” he added.

“Pakistan army is an institution which takes pride in its institutional mechanism,” said the military’s spokesperson, adding that the army took the minister’s statement with concern and it should not have been made.

He went on to add that when the army was operating well within the confines of the Constitution, then it was also the responsibility of every individual to work accordingly.