“Keep us out of politics,” Pakistan Army warns critics

PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s powerful Army warned its critics on Sunday to avoid throwing dirt on the premier institution as it took “strong exception” to “intensified and deliberate attempts” to drag it into politics after the removal of the government of Imran Khan last month.

In a statement, the Army said that the efforts being made by certain politicians, journalists and analysts to push the institution and its leadership in political affairs was “extremely damaging”.

“Recently, there have been intensified and deliberate attempts to drag Pakistan’s Armed Forces and their leadership in ongoing political discourse in the country,” according to the statement. “These attempts are manifest through direct, insinuated or nuanced references to Armed Forces as well as their senior leadership, made by some political leaders, few journalists and analysts on public forums and various communication platforms including social media.” The Army further said that this practice of unsubstantiated, defamatory and provocative statements and remarks was extremely damaging.

“Pakistan Armed Forces take strong exception to such unlawful and unethical practice and expect all to abide by the law and keep the Armed Forces out of political discourse in the best interest of the country,” it added. – NDTV