Democracy in Pakistan faces no threat from army: DG ISPR

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor says democracy must prevail in country

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Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has said that democracy in the country faces no threat from Pakistan Army.

"This is the third consecutive elected Parliament which is completing its tenure," the DG said in an interview. "Army chief [Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa] has always said he believes in the Constitution and rule of law [and] that has to be supreme."

If the masses continue to reap the benefits of democracy, then democracy has no threats, he added.

"Democracy must prevail in the country, it does not face any threat from us," the DG remarked.



On the situation on the Working Boundary and the Line of Control (LoC), Maj Gen Ghafoor said ceasefire violations were the highest the previous year since 2003.

"1,881 ceasefire violations were carried out in 2017, while 208 violations have already taken place this year."

There are two reasons [of an escalation in the violations], the DG explained. "Firstly, India wants to deflect the world's attention from the atrocities in occupied Kashmir."

"Secondly, it wants to divert Pakistan's attention from the war on terror."

"Pakistan Army, as a professional force, will not initiate [any such aggression] but will always give a befitting response to any misadventure," he remarked.

The DG categorically denied that there were any Haqqani network sanctuaries inside the country. He reiterated that 43% of Afghanistan was not under the control of the Afghan government.