COAS Gen Bajwa 'dictates' PM Abbasi to stand up amid 23rd March military parade

ISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa was caught on camera 'instructing' Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to follow due protocol as the civil-military bigwigs inspected the military parade in Islamabad.

With fighter jets zooming across the sky, Pakistan displayed its military might on Pakistan Day (Friday), however, the moment caught on camera, which apparently eclipsed the exhibition of state of the art arsenal and fighter jets was when the military chief directed Premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to stand up as a gesture of respect in honour of contingents of Jordanian troops.

https://twitter.com/haidersays/status/977141395180965889

The video, stumping the internet, showing the Chief of Army Staff, President Mamnoon Hussain, PM Abbasi, SriLankan President Maithripala Sirisena and other officials on the inspection stand has stirred laughter among social media buffs, with many raising concerns about the civil-military imbalance.

It is noteworthy that Premier Abbasi had followed the protocol by standing up, in honour of contingents that had marched prior to the Jordanian troops.

The nation is celebrating 78th Pakistan Day today with renewed commitment to work hard for the progress and prosperity of the country.

The day dawned with 31-gun salutes in the federal capital and 21 gun salutes in the provincial capitals, followed by a joint parade of all three armed forces – Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force at Shakarparian Parade Avenue in Islamabad in the morning.

Pakistan Day is celebrated to mark the Lahore Resolution on March 23 each year. The Lahore Resolution, also known as Pakistan Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940, is considered a major milestone in the Muslim struggle for an independent state.

Contingents from friendly countries including China, Turkey and UAE participated in the parade at the official ceremony. It is the first time that a contingent from the UAE military paraded along with Pakistan armed forces.

The special feature of this year’s parade is Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena’s participation, who was the guest of honour of the event. The participation of Sri Lankan president in the parade is a demonstration of close friendly ties between the two countries.

Defence Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Mujahid Anwar Khan and a plethora of citizens also witnessed the parade.