Pak PM intervenes to end spat between Army chief and minister

October 17, 2017 20:31

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has every right to express his opinion on the country's economic situation, as he sought to end a potentially damaging

spat between the powerful military and the interior minister.

Abbasi's intervention came in the backdrop of a simmering controversy stirred by a recent spat between Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and chief military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor over the Army chief's remarks on the woes of Pakistan's economy.

"There might be difference of opinion... [but] There is no civil-military tension," Abbasi said.

"If everyone is free to give their opinion on economy, then why can't the army chief talk about economy", he said in an interview on Aaj television last night.

Abbasi's comments came two days after one of his party's senior lawmakers, Rana Afzal Khan, said the Army chief should comment on the economy only at the National Security Committee and not publicly.

In an unusual move, Gen. Bajwa had voiced concern at Pakistan's "sky-high debt" and called for broadening tax base and bringing in financial discipline to break the "begging bowl".

The Army chief said that economic stability was tied deeply to Pakistan's security concerns.

Last week military spokesman Maj Gen Ghafoor told a TV channel that "if the economy is not bad, it isn't good either".

Interior minister Ahsan hit back immediately advising the military spokesperson to "refrain from commenting on the economy...[because] irresponsible statements could damage Pakistan's image globally".

"Disappointed" by Ahsan's reaction, Maj Gen Ghafoor said he, in his capacity as the military spokesperson, spoke on behalf of the Pakistan Army. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Meet Baldev Kumar from Punjab, first outsider to contest J-K LS polls

The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 paved the way for outsiders to contest polls in the Union Territory.

IPL PIX: Rahul, de Kock power LSG to easy win over CSK

Openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock hit fifties as LSG trounced CSK by eight wickets.

Phase 1 sees nearly 63% polling amid stray incidents of violence

"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 pm in many constituencies. Final figures will be known on Saturday after the scrutiny of form 17A," the EC...

Manipur records 68% polling marred by violence, firing, booth capturing

At Thamnapokpi under Moirang constituency in Bishnupur district, armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth prompting voters to flee, police said on Friday, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot...

Air India to soon have new crew management system

Air India will soon have a new crew management system that will help strengthen rostering rules and enable faster recovery from scheduled disruptions. In a message to the staff on Friday, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said that...