Pakistan

Criticism against army is unacceptable: PM Nawaz

Nawaz says Zardari's statements will only strengthen elements who want to destabilise Pakistan

Web Desk June 17, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday censured former President Asif Ali Zardari for his tirade against the army, saying the PPP co-chairman's speech was unacceptable in times of war.

Read: PPP co-chairman fires broadside at establishment

“Criticising the army will only strengthen elements who want to destabilise Pakistan," said the PM, adding that it was crucial that all parties support the army at a time when it is fighting a war against militants.

“The army and soldiers are fighting Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the entire nation supports them,” he said.

Holding a consultative meeting at the PM House to discuss Zardari's statements, the PM said, “Criticism against the armed forces is unacceptable."

Clarifying earlier reports that Zardari had invited the premier for lunch, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said, "Zardari and Nawaz will not meet today."

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali had already slammed the PPP co-chairman’s speech, calling them ‘inappropriate and insulting’.

“He (Zardari) has tried to cover up his party’s shortcomings and weaknesses by targeting a national institution,” Nisar said in a statement hours after Zardari’s angry tirade.

Nisar said the PPP leader’s criticism of the security establishment was ‘uncalled for’ and it came at a time when army soldiers were sacrificing their lives for the country’s survival. “This style of politics is dangerous as well as condemnable,” he added.

Read: Nisar calls Zardari’s speech ‘insulting’

Earlier on Tuesday, Zardari said that politicians were better suited to running the affairs of the country. “You are here for only three years,” he said in an apparent jab at the army chief.

Addressing an oath-taking ceremony for PPP office-bearers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Zardari said, “I know the art of war better than anyone else.”

COMMENTS (34)

Professor | 9 years ago | Reply @Azam Khan: Ask the Babar, Ghauris and Ghaznis about what brutality is. Maybe we'll talk then. For more recent events check out the Islamic State Muslims. You'll get an idea. How do you think Kashmir became Muslim majority? India's recorded history in Kashmir spans 5000 years. Do the math.

Azam Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @devindersingh: Then speak up against the blood stained hands of PM Modi and the judges who cleared him. Speak up against the judges decision on the Barbri Masjid and Advani. The Indian army's atrocities in Kashmir. The killing of innocent Kashmiri civillians. Devindersingh you'll be hacked to death within no time if you speak up.

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Azam Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Look who is drinking pepsi now !

globalobserver | 9 years ago | Reply "Criticism against army is unacceptable: PM Nawaz" That is interesting coming from Nawaz Sharif. Did he really mean what he said? Or, did he forget that it was the army that illegally terminate his elected government in an anti-constitutional coup and exiled him to Saudi Arabia?

devindersingh | 9 years ago | Reply @Zaida Parvez: thank god, I am happy bro bcz now I know Pakistan has educated people like you bcz in democracy if you can't speak and critise that mea, you are living fake democracy. Criticism is must in democracy

AA | 9 years ago | Reply @Ours: Mr. 10% is speaking his mind who's stopping him. Speaking your mind by the way does not involve "shitting" unless someone's mind resides in their gutts

AA | 9 years ago | Reply @Zaida Parvez: The cleaned politicians, the dirty one were also corrupting the army by sending BMW's and inviting them to take over the reins of government when they could not stand persecution of their opponents.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: you should be ashamed of your comments, think that why zardri is crying and on what action, pak army is good to keep pressure on these thugs as long they seizes to exist, Pakistani peoples could never be democratic it is norm of west only

bogus | 9 years ago | Reply Lets me honest ... this is the same military that kidnaps, tortures and executes journalist ... same military that is accused of kidnapping/executing hundreds of people in Balochistan ... same military that is responsible for developing the disastrous policy of using terrorist as "strategic assets". Seems to me that if they received more criticism they might change their ways.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply next turn should be of pmln, but fear looms, creating sneaking suspicion that you never complete your job?

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: It is rude to get personal! If you have something which stands against the former itPresident then say it or hold your silence. Rex Minor

Syed Abu Momaarim | 9 years ago | Reply I request the Chief Justice to take suo moto and open case against the zardari related to his fake graduation degree which he submitted while applying for presidency, probably earned from Axact. He should be trialed for his fake London school Of Economics fake credentials which he never earned.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply @AK: A list means nothing. It can be made in 10 minutes, by copying and pasting PTI's statements from the web. Sounds even worse than the affidavit given against Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Gp65 | 9 years ago | Reply Nawaz and Ch. Nissar have learnt from the last time when army rapped them for not 'defending' it against Altaf's onslaught. All that remains is to extend the blasphemy law to include the army,

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Now there is a race between PTI and PMLN to appease (chamcha geeri) the generals, precisely like what they were doing for TTP about the time of the last elections.

Asad | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Not majority only looters and thugs like you and PPP..

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply Trust me majority of us are happy over Mr. 10% percent's shut up call but our hypocritical stand with army is to keep bull away in case it rages in anger and runs down everybody underneath it. Yesterday I saw saw many parrots on TV screens and saw happiness in their eyes.

khan420 | 9 years ago | Reply Wise move by NS, he knows PPP is a spent force while military is reality. With military on his side, even a thousand Imran Khans cannot topple his government.

Karachiwala | 9 years ago | Reply Now lets see what army will do to Z. Are they going to do the same as they came against Altaf's statement and just going to sit mum. The reaction will gauge the neutrality and determination of ARMY to control mess. Anxiously waiting for ARMY response.....

A Peshawary | 9 years ago | Reply @IBN E ASHFAQUE: He will go to Saudi Arabia and his daughter will join his brother at London to mint billions. But time has not yet come for that as he is enjoying the ride of the metro-bus with his brother along with the untouchables he is trying to defend. A Peshawary.

AK | 9 years ago | Reply What about the list of corrupt people provided by Rangers, will NS take some action against them?

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply The army and soldiers are fighting Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the entire nation supports them,” he said. If this is true then what is the basis of you complaint? Remember, you have cornered and even managed to fool the current COAS taking war to the civilian citizens of the country , but the army brass is not all that naive or made up of all simple bods, they will strike back at the time of their choosing and you as the Prime Minister have the political responsibilty for their actions.. Rex Minor

IBN E ASHFAQUE | 9 years ago | Reply Poor NS between the devil and the deep sea. If democracy derails where will NS go?

Allah Ditta | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistani civil-military bureaucrats including the high up politicians need to behave in a prudent manner. It is not the job of public official to make political statements and the politicians need to refrain from blaming the institution than person.

Asad | 9 years ago | Reply Mian PPP is your partner in democracy, be very careful before making a statement!

excalibur | 9 years ago | Reply Zaradri should be tried for Treason as provided in the Constitution as also Khwaja Asif

MA | 9 years ago | Reply one could only guess with how much heavy heart Nawaz would have made this statement.

Ours | 9 years ago | Reply Why in our country can't we speak out mind about the army. They too are humans and are prone to mistakes. Who will hold them accountable. They can't be taken to court, allegations in times of frustration against them are a blasphemy. It's like the army has us all hostage that no one can utter anything for them.

Zaida Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Army will clean up all the political parties. Who will clean up the army?

sk | 9 years ago | Reply that's what PPP was saying when rangers' direction was towards MQM, soon as guns turned towards PPP, things became clearer. It is certain the same will happen once PML-N is targeted.

Enemy of MUNAFIQs | 9 years ago | Reply HE WILL BE THROWN OUT OF THE HALL ! Bilawal can not DARE to tell his friends, classmates or Public in Europe that he become CHAIRMAN of so called DEMOCRATIC Party through WILL. Because WEST better knows that this can only happened in KINGDOM/AUOTCARACY not in DEMOCRACY. AND Dear Mr. PM tell us about the ads of ROGUE ARMY ?

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply NS is truly scared of the establishment. What I wouldn't give to know what he privately thinks about the establishment. Chances are, he would have called Zardari and congratulated him on his speech.

A Peshawary | 9 years ago | Reply PM and Minister Sahebans! is army allowed to say what ever they want to in these difficult time? All the opponents of PPP, including sponsored media, got together to corner it, but they forgot the more they corner it harder it will bounce back. A Peshawary

A-No.1 | 9 years ago | Reply So why don't you call Mr Zardari's bluff. Perhaps you don't want to as you don't want all the dirt, including yours, to come out in the open.

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