Nisar claims ISPR issued statement after govt approval
Nisar says ISPR statement echoes government’s view; doesn't contradict PM's and his statements in NA
ISLAMABAD:
Clarifying the government’s stance on who asked the army to mediate in the current crisis, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan claimed that the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement was released after consultation and approval by the government, Express News reported.
Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Nisar reiterated that the army is completely apolitical. He claimed that the ISPR statement and his speech at the floor of Parliament delivered the same message.
“The decision taken yesterday was constitutional,” Nisar said, adding that it should be supported.
The interior minister said the army is facilitating the dialogue process and it has been authorised by the government.
“The only goal for the other side [PTI and PAT] is to make sure someone dies or gets hurt,” said Nisar, adding that the government will not be responsible for any bloodshed that takes place in the Red Zone
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar both insinuated that the army had stepped in at the behest of Imran and Qadri, not the government – a claim that denied by both Imran and Qadri.
Army chief General Raheel Sharif was named mediator on Thursday in the standoff between the government and protesters led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
The interior minister had told parliament the protesters’ unwillingness to trust anyone
“Again and again they said they only trust the army and will only have talks through the army,” he said.
“When a group or two parties has no faith in the judiciary, the opposition, lawyers or civil society and has no confidence in anybody, what option remains for the government?”
Later on in order to clarify the army chief’s role in the current political impasse, the army issued a statement that it was playing the role of facilitator at the request of the government.
In a tweet posted on Twitter, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “[The] COAS was asked by the Govt to play [a] facilitative role for resolution of current impasse, in yesterday’s meeting, at #PM House.”
Clarifying the government’s stance on who asked the army to mediate in the current crisis, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan claimed that the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement was released after consultation and approval by the government, Express News reported.
Addressing a press conference on Friday evening, Nisar reiterated that the army is completely apolitical. He claimed that the ISPR statement and his speech at the floor of Parliament delivered the same message.
“The decision taken yesterday was constitutional,” Nisar said, adding that it should be supported.
The interior minister said the army is facilitating the dialogue process and it has been authorised by the government.
“The only goal for the other side [PTI and PAT] is to make sure someone dies or gets hurt,” said Nisar, adding that the government will not be responsible for any bloodshed that takes place in the Red Zone
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar both insinuated that the army had stepped in at the behest of Imran and Qadri, not the government – a claim that denied by both Imran and Qadri.
Army chief General Raheel Sharif was named mediator on Thursday in the standoff between the government and protesters led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan.
The interior minister had told parliament the protesters’ unwillingness to trust anyone
“Again and again they said they only trust the army and will only have talks through the army,” he said.
“When a group or two parties has no faith in the judiciary, the opposition, lawyers or civil society and has no confidence in anybody, what option remains for the government?”
Later on in order to clarify the army chief’s role in the current political impasse, the army issued a statement that it was playing the role of facilitator at the request of the government.
In a tweet posted on Twitter, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “[The] COAS was asked by the Govt to play [a] facilitative role for resolution of current impasse, in yesterday’s meeting, at #PM House.”