Most competent, professional officers entrusted to lead Peshawar Corps: ISPR

Taking note of the “imprudent comments” related to Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, the military’s media wing said on Friday that “one of the most competent and professional officers,” is always “entrusted” to lead the formation.

In a statement, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the “corps is an illustrious formation” that is leading the “national war against terrorism for over two decades”.

“One of the most competent and professional officers is entrusted with the responsibility to lead this prestigious formation. Imprudent comments made by important senior politicians recently about Corps Commander Peshawar are very inappropriate,” said the ISPR.

The military’s media wing said that “such statements undermine the honour and morale of institution and its leadership”.

“It is expected that the senior political leadership of the country refrains from passing objectionable remarks against the institution whose brave officers and men are constantly putting their lives on the line to guard the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan,” said the ISPR.

DG ISPR says 'keep armed forces away from political discourse'

Shortly after the statement was issued, Director-General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the armed forces of the country have made "repeated requests" to keep them away from political discourse.

Speaking to a private news channel, the DG ISPR said that for the last few days, the political leadership of the country has been issuing some "very inappropriate statements" about the armed forces.

"We have repeatedly made requests not to drag the army into political matters," he said, adding that the armed forces have "nothing to do with politics as per the law and Constitution of the country."

He further said that the Constitution has clarified the procedure of appointing the army chief.

"We, as an institution, have been showing tolerance for a long time," Maj Gen Babar said, adding that as a country, Pakistan faces numerous challenges.

"The army is playing an important role in the internal security of the country on all fronts, therefore, the focus of the military leadership is on those responsibilities."

We, therefore, once again request the media and the politicians not to drag the army into political matters.

He said that talking about the post of the army chief without any reason is tantamount to making it controversial.

"It is neither in the interest of the country nor in the interest of the institution to talk about the position of the army chief without any reason," he said.