ISLAMABAD: While initial reports of Army Chief General Asim Munir’s address at a youth conference in Islamabad focused on his expectations from the young population, subsequent accounts from attending reporters revealed a broader range of topics covered.
During the event at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, General Munir engaged with the audience, addressing questions on elections, foreign policy, and recent political events.
Regarding the upcoming elections on February 8, he urged voters to exercise caution and emphasized that votes should not be traded for monetary gains, specifically mentioning Rs5,000 as an example.
A journalist reported that General Munir stressed the importance of making informed voting decisions, cautioning against relying solely on social media or a “six-inch screen.”
On the issue of governance and completing tenures, the army chief remarked that being elected did not grant political parties a license to misgovern for five years.
In response to a question about the frequent disruptions in governments completing their terms, General Munir queried the audience on whether political parties should be allowed to jeopardize the unity of Pakistan.
Without explicitly naming the PTI, he suggested that parties should adhere to the constitutional system after being removed through legal means rather than resorting to street protests. Acknowledging the diversity within parties and institutions, he proposed the possibility of amending laws to allow voters to de-seat their representatives if a sufficient number of people vote for it.
On the foreign policy front, General Munir ruled out the possibility of reconciliation with India, citing India’s resistance to accepting Pakistan’s existence. In response to airstrikes into Iran, he asserted that if a country “backstabs” Pakistan, it would face a fitting response.
General Munir highlighted Pakistan’s historical support for Afghanistan but warned that an attack on Pakistan would not be tolerated, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding every Pakistani’s safety and security.
In a blunt statement, he expressed disregard for Afghanistan’s historical opposition to Pakistan’s UN membership, stating, “When it comes to the safety and security of every single Pakistani, the whole of Afghanistan can be damned.”
