"While reaffirming support to democracy, the conference reviewed with serious concern, the existing political crisis and the violent turn it has taken, resulting in large scale injuries and loss of lives. Further use of force will only aggravate the problem," said an ISPR statement released after a nearly four-hour long meeting of the corps commanders.
The statement went on to add: "It was once again reiterated that the situation should be resolved politically without wasting any time and without recourse to violent means."
"Army remains committed to playing its part in ensuring security of the state and will never fall short of meeting national aspirations," the statement concluded.
The meeting, attended by all principle staff officers as well as Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam, had been convened against the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation following clashes between anti-government protesters and police.
All eyes are on the top military commanders as their role has now become crucial in view of the violence.
Military sources say the commanders will review the current political crisis and decide what role they can possibly play to defuse the tensions.
On Saturday night, fierce clashes erupted between law-enforcers and protesters in Islamabad as protesters attempted to march towards the Prime Minister House.
Tear-gas and rubber bullets were used by the police, while protesters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) responded with pelting stones.
The clashes come on the 14th day of sit-ins in the capital, which had thus far remained without incident.
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Crisis should be resolved peacefully just like army has done half a dozen times by taking over. Almost four decade of army rule has not done much against corruption, hunger, poverty, education, power generation or anything for poor masses. No political party had decades of unhindered dictatorial powers. They come with the same slogans of corruption but take the worst traitors of each party with them, like Jam Sadiq, Choudhry Shujat, and likes to name a few. The same drama is repeated every few years.
@abc: so you assumed that the message is for N league . Why the message is not for IK & TUQ .? The demand for resignation of NS itself based on allegation of rigging few constituencies is viewed globally as wrong / unconstitutional. peaceful protest is Ok but marching towards Parliament House with vehicles is a move to create anarchy a situation wherein violence takes place so that government can be blamed and the mob emotions can be aroused further. I apprehend a bloodless coup is in offing.. Nowhere in the world army advises the government to resolve the matter else (they will be left with no alternative but to respect the national aspirations) don't blame us.
@Unfortunate: Actually, if the sectarian undercurrents of PAT's dharna become institutionalized then the fragile sectarian harmony is likely to breakdown with unknown consequences for the nation. Let us not let Pakistan become Iraq or Syria..
It means civilian government should allow these anarchists to occupy and destroy government buildings. If in process, anarchists get injured, then its government's duty to spend tax money on their treatment.
One commonality between the Parliament , Supreme Court and the Army, stood out very prominently after this ' extremely urgent' meeting of Army top Brass and that is, none of these institutions care for the people , are not for the people and would kick the people at the first oppertunity. No wonder people want all this to change and change sooner than these institutions expect. Come on people keep it up and disappoint them.
Well, wisdom prevails.
It can happen in Pakistan only where the Army tells the PM solve the problem or face the consequences in other countries the Army is supposed obey the orders of the Govt ie PM.
Gen Raheel, Your brother died fighting for Pakistan and the nation honors him to this day. It's your turn now. Please do the needful, strengthen democracy and purge the army of the dark sheep that are playing havoc with Pakistan without realizing the consequences of doing so.
God bless you
So patronizing !
@Blithe: Make sure you read what is written before you preach. Mistakes like this betray your calibre.
Interesting statement encouraging ik and tuq to continue their march with burn destroy mission .voilence is Atwood street. In this country if somebody took a crane and axes and wire cutters towards White House they will be all in jail. Pakistanis need to understand this statement essentially encourages further riots and lawlessness. May be boots are in distance but you should be able to hear it." They are going to walk all over you")
@Observer;: Blah Blah Blah.... talking without sense and proof wont help
PAT is trying to unite two schools of jurisprudence against a third. Certain elements with sectarian leanings in the establishment are supporting them but the entire establishment is not. Therefore, the establishment is paralyzed so far. If the foregoing two elements with the support of PTI succeed in polarization, it could have disastrous consequences for the nation. Only peaceful change can keep the nation together.
Anarchy is the mother of violence and if we believe that paralyzing government is not extreme form of anarchy, then we should have our heads examined.
Nice try but army is pulling the strings behind the curtain.
@lkhan: Israel says exactly the same about Palestinians as N league supporters do about PTI and PAT. Firstly , the way the police is handling the situation is just shameful, using live rounds and expired tear gas shells on peaceful protesters is also unconstitutional. Secondly they were just protesting outside the parliament house which is legal everywhere throughout the world. The truth is that had the protesters been allowed to go through none of this would have happened in the first place.
Respect the Army Chief's support of the democratic system and concern for the loss of life and injuries. Who can persuade the Canadian cleric and IK's followers not to carry batons, slingshots with glass and metal balls, and worse? They say they are peaceful, yet the breaking of the parliament wall, and throwing stones and bricks at the police is anything but peaceful. Someone must persuade these upstart leaders they cannot march to the PM house as the constitution does not allow it, and where ever they do march, respect public property, and equally important, lives of the women and children shields these two cowards are turning to.
The puppeteer has spoken. This time around it will be soft coup. The roller-coaster continues,,,
One should be careful form Mr Javed Hashmi looking at his previous record people has the right to ask him why he was in Islamabad for 16 days for what perpose he betrayed Nawaz Sharif and now Imran Khan Shame on him
The message is very clear to the N league. Stop misusing the powers and any further escalation will not be good for you and solve the matter urgently. If you cant handle the matters than someone has to get the job done.
Pakistan is the world stupid country and Nation. Where they think they can make the whole world fool and cheat for decades instead of adopting a positive attitude and developmental role in the best interest of even own people. All the institutions and specially agencies have been involved in the decades of blame gaming, power play and cheating, destroying own people and putting the country in various disasters and crisis. Generation of generations have been destroyed and the whole region security on decades long self created threat. Frankly speaking Pakistan has not been free independent yet. Its own people and Institution are the big threat to its existence. The worst and negative role agencies with in and outside the boundaries and propaganda game and divided and rule is still continue. That is the big threat to the country and its people.
If ever there was a NOTHING statement.......that was it.
High time to see whether Pak army is still rouge army or it's no more.
Thanks God army is not going for military coup. Imran Khan and Qadri would be very disappointed.
Khoda pahar tey nikleya chooha, tey oh wee moya hoya.
Why hold an emergency corps commanders' meeting, when the outcome is business as usual. Now all players, PMLN, PTI, PAT, Army, Supreme Court, Police are looking clowns.
" national aspirations" are not defined in core commander meetings ; it's defined and shaped in the parliament.
Make sure you get understand that , Gen Sahib.
Message is clear for both the sides. No further violence and sit together to find a way out.
Protecting their poodles IK abs TuQ
When politicians completely fail to resolve their own issues, PAK Army has to take burden of responsibility, which they are NOT interested, but our system somehow forcing them to bring the nation out of crisis. We need peace and progress in the country, no matter by who and how.
On whose dictation Imran Qadri are propelling the country towards an other martial law? Fore comming events will not spare the responsible and this will be cold blooded murder of democracy .
They must be planning how to make DHA golf courses and how to benefit from this situation. Why did they sleep last night?
Gen Raheel, Are you aware of the fact that PM wanted Army to go after protestors? Why did they vacate the Parliament without informing your team? If protestors have moved ahead would they have fired at public? If that was the case then it was beginning of civil war.....sir.
Gen Raheel, Sir let me tell you strongly and NO ONE should take this lightly, last night we came to close to Civil War. Government pulled out Police from the Parliament without informing Brig Tariq. The protestor came face to face with Army and if Allah forbid, a shot was fired that would have been the beginning of Civil War and protestors (perhaps, the nation would have gone after Army. With all institution fighting each other you have Civil War. The PM has shown increasing sign of mental imbalance and is grounds for his removal under the Constitution.