‘Try to understand demands of modern nation state’

Lt Gen Mehmood tells UoP students wrong to believe Pashtuns less welcome in national policy making

PESHAWAR: Profiling Pashtuns in a negative manner is totally false, said Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood.

Talking to a team of students and faculty of University of Peshawar on field trip to Khyber Rifles Headquarters, Lt Gen Mehmood dispelled the impression emphatically that Pashtuns’ are less resourceful and less embraced in national policies. Rather, he pointed out, a sizeable number of Pashtuns are serving in Pakistan Army, they are carriers of private national transport, possess major ministerial portfolios.

Pashtuns are the only one ethnicity to be seen spread from Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi, he said.

The corps commander called upon students to try to understand the demands of a modern nation state where territorial integrity and well-being of all the citizens come first.

He said that with patience and trust in institutions’ capacity, the solutions to all problems can be reached with time and understanding.

He categorically dismissed the case of missing persons and called upon students to understand that militants’ splinter groups were being run from the other side of the border in Afghanistan. Pointing out the example of the recent attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi where reported missing persons were found to be armed terrorist.

Later, Corps Commander Lt Gen Mehmood gave souvenir to UoP Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Abid as memento of the tour.

Earlier, the UoP delegation went to Michni Checkpost and Torkham border. They were briefed by FC Wing Commander Umair. During question answer session, FC Wing Commander Umair said that Pakistan Customs had stopped people from both side sides of the Torkham border from bringing goods without payment of due levy and duty.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Abid led the 300 students and faculty at Yadagar-e-Shuhda on behalf of University of Peshawar. Brigadier Shakir welcomed the delegation at GRC, where Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Abid laid a floral wreath to pay homage to the 4,900 martyrs of 11 Corps Peshawar. Later, students visited Khyber Rifles officers mess, where traditional Mehsud, Khattak, Bhittani and Chitrali troupes presented the folk dance. Students visited the historic picture gallery along with fabulous Lady Diana Room. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2019.