LAHORE- Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Khursheed Shah has said that he did not find anything objectionable in the recent statement of Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, which was termed irresponsible by the army spokesperson.
Talking to newsmen in Lahore on Friday, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said he has analysed Rafique’s remarks, delivered on December 24, but did not find anything controversial in them.
“There was nothing [in Rafique’s statement] to warrant an immediate and such a massive reaction from ISPR. This shouldn’t have been done. The institution’s [army’s] each and every word is important,” declared Shah.
To a query regarding the possibility of another NRO (National Reconciliation Order) in future, the politician highlighted that there was a marked contrast between the NRO signed by PPP with Pervaiz Musharraf and the NRO, visibly on the cards, being discussed in power corridors.
The lawmaker detailed that the NRO in 2007 led to the restoration of democracy and culmination of exile for political leaders but the one being under discussion right now was limited to the settlement of cases and disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/saad-rafiques-statement-irresponsible-and-unwarranted-ispr/
In a presser on Thursday, Maj Gen Ghafoor had said that Rafique’s statement was very irresponsible and unwarranted as it was targeting the chain of command and the subordination system of Pakistan Army.
“The army takes pride in its discipline. These remarks should not have been made.If this discipline and subordination is not present in the Army, it would not be the best in the world,” he added.
The rejoinder came in response to Rafique’s speech in which PML-N’s firebrand leader had lavished praise on the army chief’s “confidence-boosting move” of briefing the Senate, however, the minister had said ‘others’ should also support the army chief’s stance on whom “his command is applied to”.
“They should also follow that order,” said Rafique and added that those who do mischiefs should also support the army chief.
Hours after the response by Director General ISPR Major general Asif Ghafoor, the PML-N legislator clarified in a series of tweets that his remarks were presented out of context.
https://twitter.com/KhSaad_Rafique/status/946389361255485440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.dailypakistan.com.pk%2Fheadline%2Fsaad-rafiques-statement-irresponsible-and-unwarranted-ispr%2F
https://twitter.com/KhSaad_Rafique/status/946388847683948544
