Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Saturday said the armed forces pose no threat to democracy in Pakistan.
"There is no threat to democracy from the Pakistan Army, but there could be a threat to democracy if its requirements are not being met," he said.
"I want to add that there needs to be stability. The government needs to continue and an established democratic system needs to continue," said the military spokesman.
"I have to say this because there are a lot of rumours about martial law and the installation of a technocratic government."
"We will play our part as and when required but whatever we do will be done by staying in our defined legal and constitutional limits," Major General Asif Ghafoor said while addressing a press conference.
Ahsan Iqbal’s economy check
ISPR DG claimed that he never commented on economic affairs of the country. Security situation in Pakistan and economic progress go hand in hand among other factors, he said.
However, he sad that democracy is not threatened by Pakistan military. Statements and reports claiming of a brewing de-facto martial law are nothing but baseless, he added.
Earlier interior minister Ahsan Iqbal had given a statement on Friday advising Major General Ghafoor to abstain from commenting on country’s economy.
Iqbal is touring United States and during his stay he took notice of the mismanagement and clash between law enforcers and lawyers belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in accountability court during hearing of a corruption reference against Maryam Nawaz and Capt (r) Safdar.
Major General Ghafoor had commented on the economical affairs of Pakistan in an exclusive talk with Dunya News in programme ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath’.
He had maintained that the economic situation of Pakistan is not bad but not good either and a comprehensive strategy was needed to secure the future.
"Pakistan has done a lot to improve its security situation in the past 15 years, especially in the past eight years," he said, adding that only trust-based relations with the international community can take us forward.
Rescue of American-Canadian couple
Talking of the recently conducted intelligence-based operation which resulted in the rescue and safe recovery of the Canadian-American couple, along with their children, Ghafoor said better intelligence sharing and cooperation can ensure better security.
Describing the operation, DG ISPR said a call was received by the American ambassador at 4:10pm, informing us that the family was being transferred to Pakistan. On the information we received, we sent our troops and used surveillance means to detect the vehicles transporting the hostages.
Elaborating further, Maj Gen Ghafoor said the army has a very heavy presence in the area "but obviously we dont cover every inch".
"We traced the two cars and cordoned them and fired on their vehicle. Our first priority was that the captives are brought out safely and wanted to isolate the captives and the terrorists so that the captives remain safe."
He added that the objective was to ensure the terrorists, a driver and three gunmen, don't fire on the hostages.
"Personnel of the ISI and the Army came between the terrorists and the fleeing terrorists so they could shield the hostages from gunfire. There is an Afghan refugee camp nearby, and the terrorists fled to it."
We have been saying repeatedly that the Afghan refugees need to be sent back. It is difficult for us to distinguish who is a terrorist and who is a refugee in such situations."
After detailing the rescue operation, the Army spokesman played a clip of Joshua Boyle, one of the rescued hostage, who praised the professional conduct of the men who saved him and his family and also thanked the Pakistani Army and government for ensuring his family's safety during the rescue operation.
It was incredibly professional and we thank the Pakistanis who rescued us," said Boyle in the video clip.
