——— Army Chief says spreading mischief on earth is the mother of all sins
——— Adds we do not consider those who shun Shariat and constitution Pakistanis
——— Urges Afghans to not oppose their neighbour and a long-standing friend for the sake of outlaws
——— Warns people should hold peaceful protests but refrain from fomenting chaos
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has vowed not to allow anyone to spread anarchy in the country, saying that the “greatest sin in the sight of Almighty Allah is creating chaos in the land”.
“The Pakistan Army is struggling to eliminate anarchy in the land. Whoever doesn’t adhere to the Shariah and the Constitution, we don’t consider them Pakistanis,” the army chief said while addressing the National Convention of Scholars on Thursday.
Gen Munir said the “people are advised to stage protests but stay peaceful”.
Criminal and smuggling mafias are providing patronage to terrorism, he added.
“The anarchy is spread through social media. If anyone tried to spread chaos in Pakistan, by God, we [army] will stand against them,” the COAS pledged.
He said that religious scholars should preach restraint and unity instead of extremism and bring back moderation in society while opposing anarchy and chaos.
Pakistan, the COAS said, had shown hospitality towards millions of Afghans for over the last 40 years.
“We are trying to convince them [Afghanistan] to not oppose its neighbour, brotherly Islamic country and longtime friend [Pakistan] for the sake of the ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan]. The Khwarij are a big [fitna] mischief.
“Our Pakhtoon brothers and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have made various sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
We appreciate their efforts and stand with them,” he said.
Speaking about extremism, Gen Munir further said that Islam doesn’t preach coercion. “No power can harm Pakistan because this country came into being to continue to exist.”
He said that if anyone wants to know the importance of a state, they should ask about Iraq, Syria and Libya.
“Where are those who used to say that ‘the two-nation theory has been drowned in the Bay of Bengal… Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the Partition of the subcontinent,” he said.
The army chief also expressed regret over the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. “Palestine gives us the lesson that we have to protect ourselves and strengthen Pakistan.” –Agencies
