Army vows to provide necessary support to ECP for elections
The military’s top brass on Thursday announced to extend the “requisite and necessary support” to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming general elections, the Inter-Services Public Relations statement said.
The resolve was expressed during the 261st Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The participants of the conference paid tribute to the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs, including officers and personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and citizens, who laid their lives for ensuring peace and stability in the country.
The participants also offered prayers for the martyrs, including those of the Dera Ismail Khan attack.
The corps commanders also reiterated the Pakistan Army’s resolve to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against direct and indirect threats.
They expressed serious concern over the continued repression and reprehensible human rights violations by Indian military forces in held Kashmir. The recent acts of abduction, torture, and killing of civilians by the Indian Army were unequivocally condemned by the participants. Such acts constituted grave crimes against humanity and could not dampen the spirit of the brave Kashmiris who were struggling for their lawful right of self-determination.
Pakistan would keep supporting its Kashmiri brethren with all the political, moral and diplomatic support for the resolution of the Kashmir issue according to international law and relevant UNSC resolutions, the forum stated.
The gathering was briefed on the prevalent geostrategic environment, challenges to national security and the armed forces’ strategy in response to the evolving threat. The sanctuaries and liberty of action available to the terrorists of the proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk in a neighbouring country, and availability of latest weapons to the terrorists were noted as serious points of concern, impacting the security of Pakistan.
The officers resolved that all terrorists, their facilitators, and abettors, working at the behest of hostile forces to destabilise Pakistan, would be dealt with the full might of the state.
The forum expressed full solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemned serious human rights violations and war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza while reiterating the government’s stance of demanding an immediate ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.
The conference reiterated its support for the ongoing efforts to promote socioeconomic growth and encouraging foreign investment under the umbrella of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
It also took a holistic review of the ongoing actions being taken against smuggling, money laundering, power theft and hoarding of essential items, amongst other illegal economic activities.
The Pakistan Army would continue to provide all-out support to relevant government institutions and law enforcement agencies to curb such crimes. The meeting was also briefed on the operational preparedness of the formations.
The army chief stressed the need for continuously maintaining operational excellence in the cognitive and physical realms and pursuit of high standards of motivation and training.