Govt asked army to play 'facilitator': ISPR

Published August 29, 2014
— File Photo
— File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The military on Friday issued a short statement saying that it was playing the role of facilitator in the ongoing political crisis at the behest of the government.

In a message posted on Twitter, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, "[The] COAS was asked by the Govt to play [a] facilitative role for resolution of current impasse, in yesterday's meeting, at #PM House."

The Twitter update raises more questions than answers about what led to the army's facilitative role in the crisis.


Who requested army mediation?


Government says it gave permission to the army

Explaining what transpired in the lead up to the army chief's meeting with Imran and Qadri, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said in Parliament: “It so happened that I was in a meeting when Nisar got a call requesting if General Raheel could meet with Imran and Qadri to which I said they have requested the meeting and if General Raheel wants to meet them, he should go ahead.”

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, in a media briefing also claimed that the ISPR Twitter update was shown to him prior to being published, and was a vindication of the government's point of view.

Imran, Qadri say government is lying

The protesting Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PTI) said they made no requests for the military to act as mediator and that the government directly approached the military for help. Citing the Twitter update as evidence, both protesting parties claim Nawaz lied about the PTI and PAT having made the request.

Army says the request came from govt

To clarify its involvement in the political situation, the army said that the request to play facilitator came from the government. The Twitter update did not clarify whether the request from the government came as a result of PTI, PAT demands for army involvement, as the government maintains.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Hybrid’ talk
22 Jun, 2025

‘Hybrid’ talk

IN the past, while most elected governments would at least publicly bristle at the mention of being partners in ...
Farcical nomination
Updated 22 Jun, 2025

Farcical nomination

Many citizens have expressed dismay and embarrassment over this symbolic capitulation to the US presidency.
Sunken dreams
22 Jun, 2025

Sunken dreams

THE heartrending fate of people escaping conflict, deprivation and instability across the globe is among the...
Tax tussles
Updated 21 Jun, 2025

Tax tussles

Lawmakers should try and fix the broken tax system rather than advocating for new amnesties.
Seniority crisis
21 Jun, 2025

Seniority crisis

THE Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court has determined that there is nothing wrong with Pakistan’s president...
Monsoon readiness
21 Jun, 2025

Monsoon readiness

OUR cities are once again staring down the very real prospect of waterlogged streets and stalled life with PMD’s...