Army backs Pakistan polls

PAKISTAN’S military hit back at mounting criticism of its long cam­paign against militancy and stressed its support for upcoming elections in a major public relations offensive on Monday (4).

The push came a day after a rights group clashed with Taliban-linked militants in the country’s northwest, sparking fresh claims the military was backing proxy forces based in Pakistan that are fighting in Afghanistan.

Last Sunday’s (3) fight between ac­tivists from the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM) and miliants during a rally left at least two dead and dozens injured on the Afghan border, accord­ing to a local official.

PTM has been calling for investiga­tions into disappearances and extraju­dicial killings by Pakistan’s security establishment, while also echoing ac­cusations that the military allowed ex­tremists a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan.

But in a wide-ranging press confer­ence, chief military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor slammed claims that the country was harbouring mili­tants and accused PTM of being ma­nipulated by “enemies of Pakistan”.

He went on to defend the conduct of Pakistan’s fight against the insurgents, noting that thousands of people had lost their lives in the country’s battle against extremism.

“War is a cruel action and not a fair game. More than 70,000 Pakistanis and 16,000 soldiers have been killed and wounded in this war,” said Ghafoor during a press conference in the garri­son city of Rawalpindi.

Ghafoor was also at pains to empha­sise the military’s support for elections set for July, as tensions mount follow­ing the ousting of former prime minis­ter Nawaz Sharif by the supreme court on corruption charges last year.

Since being removed from power, Sharif has become increasingly con­frontational with the military, repeat­edly accusing them of unfairly target­ing him and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party.

Ghafoor said the military stood by Pakistan’s political development ahead of what is likely to be only the second democratic transfer of power in the nation’s 70-year history.

“There is nobody else happier than the army over the completion of par­liament and government’s tenure,” Ghafoor said.

Pakistan has been under direct mili­tary rule for almost half of its existence. At least 15 heads of states were de­posed before completing their term, often at the behest of the country’s powerful armed forces. (AFP)