LAHORE: Having a rare history of directly taking on the MQM, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid has come out in full support of the army to condemn the statement of Muttahida chief Altaf Husain, saying any tirade against armed forces is not acceptable.

“There can’t be any greater hostility towards the country than calling the intelligence agency of an enemy country (India) for help. Our party has been standing shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces of Pakistan all the time and in all respects and strongly condemns every tirade against them (armed forces),” a PML-Q spokesman said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

The party also demanded that the matter should immediately be probed into and legal steps be taken accordingly.

“The army is an institution popular with the people of Pakistan. It has rendered laudable services for security of Pakistan in every difficult time whether it be aggression by the enemy, internal concerns, natural calamities or any other challenge. The army has excelled all institutions with regard to security of the country on every occasion and helped the people,” it said The PML-Q also criticised the PML-N government for its “double standards” over the issue.

“We will raise this issue in the Senate. Senator Kamil Ali Agha will present a resolution in this regard,” the spokesman said.

PML-Q Punjab secretary general Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan said anyone speaking against the army, inside or outside the parliament, could not be tolerated. The government issued statement only after ISPR’s reaction (on Altaf Husain’s statement), he said.

“The army is fighting against terrorism for security of 200 million Pakistanis. Its officers and jawans are sacrificing their lives and at this stage criticism (of army) for political objectives is condemnable and amounts to harming the war against terrorism,” Mr Zaheeruddin said.

He said at this critical juncture the media should also play its national role according to the demands of patriotism. Speeches causing hatred and provocation should be boycotted, he added.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2015

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