BAP advised to refrain from ‘army support’ claims

Former SAFRON minister says if army needs support it will ask a central-level party for it

QUETTA: Former federal minister for States and Frontier Regions Gen (retd) Qadir Baloch has said that the Pakistan Army is the most responsible and important institution of the country and if they need support of any political party then definitely their choice will be a central-level political party.

“The Balochistan Awami Party should refrain from making claims like they have the support of the army because the Pakistan Army is a responsible part of the country which will not indulge in area-based politics,” said Gen (retd) Baloch while addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club.



QPC President Razaur Rehman, Quetta Deputy Mayor Younas Baloch, Irfan Kurd and other PML-N leaders were presented.
On delimitation and election delay, Baloch said, “The major political parties in Pakistan, including PML-N, PPP and PTI, want general election to be held on time.

“Indeed many politicians and people have reservations over the new delimitations, but it must be addressed constitutionally.”
He said, “After the Supreme Court’s decision on delimitation and its direction, I believe the issue will not affect elections in Pakistan.



“Only an emergency or chaos can delay elections in Pakistan and on that point I think the administration should pursue the will of the people of Pakistan.”

On former prime minister Nawaz Sharif confronting the army, Baloch said, “The former prime minister has some reservations over the court’s judgement but he is not an anti-army person nor has he ever put the national interest at stake.”

He further said, “Coalition with other political parties could be repeated as we had three partners in the Centre and Balochistan, but the party will decide its political strategy in Balochistan after reviewing ground realities.”