Lt Gen Asim Munir named Pakistan’s new army chief
Ending weeks of intense speculation and political tussle in Pakistan, Lt General Asim Munir got appointed as the new chief of army staff.
Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir has apparently backed Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and Asif Ali Zardari-led PPP to form a “unified government”. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Munir said that Pakistan’s diverse polity and pluralism will be well-represented by a unified government of all democratic forces imbibed with national purpose.
“Elections and democracy are means to serve people of Pakistan and not ends in themselves. The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 million people,” the Pakistani Army chief said.
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He further added, “Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people. Political leadership and their workers should rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people which is perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful.”
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The Army in Pakistan is believed to have direct interference in the country’s government formation process and the Army chief’s statement apparently suporting the alliance government is seen as a show of support for Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N.
The elections have surprised pundits and pre-poll predictions after Imran Khan’s PTI-backed independents were poised to win the most seats.
The Imran Khan’s PTI-backed candidates have won 94, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N 63, and Zardari’s PPP 50 national assembly seats with the final results still being awaited.
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