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Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, has vehemently denied allegations made by the opposition leader, stating that the Pakistan Armed Forces are standing by their oath of allegiance, even in the face of criticism. Speaking at the National Assembly session, Khawaja Asif refuted the opposition leader’s statement, calling it irresponsible and devoid of facts.
Khawaja Asif stated that the opposition leader claimed Pakistan’s Armed Forces are a force of four districts, which was unexpected and unacceptable. He emphasized that every sane individual knows that the Pakistan Armed Forces are a national force, not limited to a specific district or province. Citing statistics, Khawaja Asif said that in the last five years, 3141 soldiers have laid down their lives, including 170 officers, 212 JCOs, and 2759 jawans.
The Defense Minister asserted that such incidents can only be countered by the unity of the people. He added that the highest number of casualties occurred in AJK (2043), followed by Balochistan (103), Gilgit-Baltistan (161), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (534), Punjab (1657), and Sindh (452).
Khawaja Asif questioned how anyone could deny the fact that the Armed Forces are a national institution, pointing out that the opposition leader’s statement was a clear attempt to undermine the sacrifices of the soldiers. He emphasized that the Leader of the Opposition’s position is a national one, not a provincial or district-level one.
The Defense Minister concluded by saying that the shahadats of the soldiers are the red line, and their sacrifices are not limited to a specific province or district. He urged the opposition to refrain from making irresponsible statements and work towards building a united front against terrorism.
In other news, the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, visited the home of a martyred soldier, Shaheed Aun Abbas, and offered prayers for his soul. The Interior Minister, Mohsin Nawaz Khan, condemned the firing on the police in DI Khan and paid tribute to the four police officers who were martyred in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Chief Information Officer of the Punjab government, Ismail Dar, expressed support for net metering, while Awais Leghari also backed the initiative. The Chief of the Punjab University Police, Saeed Afaridi, demanded that the federal government pay outstanding dues to the police.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued a decision on the request of the Power Division regarding fixed charges, stating that they will be applied to both protected and non-protected consumers.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old girl was killed in a shooting in Mumbai, India, in what appears to be a case of love turned deadly.
