Re: Kayani speaks his mind (Merged)
Here is full statement. It seems like Kayani’s statement was taken out of context to make it sound like that he was ready for coup d’etat, but reality is that politicians, public, courts and media won’t support any illegal action by these kooky generals. Btw, if Pakistan is ever going to become a successful democracy it should do what Turkey has done to its generals. Send some of them to jail & its good 1st step to prosecute corrupts ones.
No one has last word on national interest: Kayani - thenews.com.pk
“Equally important is the trust between the leaders and the led of the armed forces,” said General Kayani, adding: “Any effort to create a distinction between the two undermines the very basis of this concept and is not tolerated, be it Pakistan or any other country.”
The COAS was speaking to a group of officers at the General Headquarters. General Kayani said: “Any effort which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and armed forces of Pakistan undermines the larger national interest.”
He emphasised one more time that “armed forces draw their strength from the bedrock of public support. National security is meaningless without it. While constructive criticism is well understood, conspiracy theories based on rumours which create doubts about the very intent, are unacceptable.”
General Kayani maintained: “While individual mistakes might have been made by all of us in the country, these should be best left to the due process of law. As we all are striving for the rule of law, the fundamental principle — that no one is guilty until proved — should not be forgotten. Let us not pre-judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions.”
He raised the importance of examining two fundamental questions: “One, are we promoting the rule of law and the Constitution and two, are we strengthening or weakening the institutions? In the ultimate analysis, all of us would have served Pakistan better if history and our future generations judge us positively.”
Following is the full text of the army chief General Kayani’s statement:
While speaking to a group of officers at the GHQ, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said: “As a nation, we are passing through a defining phase. We are critically looking at the mistakes made in the past and trying to set the course for a better future. An intense discussion and debate is natural in this process. No individual or institution has the monopoly to decide what is right or wrong in defining the ultimate national interest. It should emerge only through a consensus, and all Pakistanis have a right to express their opinions. The Constitution provides a clear mechanism for it.
“We all have a great responsibility to shoulder. We should learn from our past, try to build the present and keep our eyes set on a better future. We allthrough a consensus, and all Pakistanis have a right to express their opinions. The Constitution provides a clear mechanism for it.
“We all have a great responsibility to shoulder. We should learn from our past, try to build the present and keep our eyes set on a better future. We all agree that strengthening the institutions, ensuring the rule of law and working within the well-defined bounds of the Constitution is the right way forward. Weakening of the institutions and trying to assume more than one’s due role will set us back. We owe it to the future of Pakistan to lay correct foundations today. We should not be carried away by short-term considerations, which may have greater negative consequences in the future.
“Armed Forces draw their strength from the bedrock of public support. National security is meaningless without it. Therefore, any effort, which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and armed forces of Pakistan, undermines the larger national interest. While constructive criticism is well understood, conspiracy theories based on rumours, which create doubts about the very intent, are unacceptable.
“The integrity and cohesion of the armed forces is essentially based on the trust reposed in them by the people of Pakistan. Strengthening this trust will ensure better security of the country. Equally important is the trust between the leaders and the led of the armed forces. Any effort to create a distinction between the two, undermines the very basis of this concept and is not tolerated, be it Pakistan or any other country.
“While individual mistakes might have been made by all of us in the country, these should be best left to the due process of law. As we all are striving for the rule of law, the fundamental principle, that no one is guilty until proven, should not be forgotten. Let us not pre-judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions.
“All systems in Pakistan appear to be in a haste to achieve something, which can have both positive and negative implications. Let us take a pause and examine the two fundamental questions; One, are we promoting the rule of law and the Constitution? Two, are we strengthening or weakening the institutions? In the ultimate analysis, all of us would have served Pakistan better if history and our future generations judge us positively.”