Asif criticizes Achakzai’s remarks on ‘strength of four districts’; opp leader stands by his word
Khawaja Muhammad Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The influence of the armed forces in the country’s political system dominated proceedings in the National Assembly on Wednesday, with the Treasury defending their role while the opposition stressed that it should be strictly defined by the constitution.
The National Assembly paid tribute to the armed forces for their unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and honored all martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation.
A resolution moved by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif affirmed the pledge of the House that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not be in vain and stressed that the nation stands firmly with the armed forces in this ongoing struggle.
The resolution praised the professional capacity, valor and dedication of the military, and declared full support for its continued efforts to protect national security, maintain stability and maintain peace throughout the country.
Earlier in the debate, Asif criticized opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai over his recent remarks about the army, describing the statement as “irresponsible” and an attempt to “belittle the sacrifices of security personnel”.
Asif quoted Achakzai as saying the army was a “four-district force” but did not provide further context for the remarks.
The defense minister termed it “highly irresponsible” and a “deliberate attempt to defame” the national institution, claiming the army was a national force. “That is the power of the federation, with representation from all provinces,” he stressed. “It is the power of the whole country.”
During his speech, the minister also shared data on the representation of various provinces in the army by reading statistics from a document.
According to the document, the province-wise representation in line with the population of Army districts as per the 2023 census was 51.1 percent from Punjab, Sindh (20.52%), KP (16.28%), Balochistan (6.04%), AJK and Gilgit-54%) and . communities.
The minister emphasized that the armed forces had made several sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. “During the last five years, 3,141 personnel, including officers, non-commissioned officers, and jawans have embraced martyrdom in this struggle,” the defense minister said, adding that these martyrs were from all regions of the country.
According to data shared by Asif, these martyrs included 170 officers, 212 junior officers and 2,759 soldiers.
He added that the opposition leader’s “irresponsible statement is an attempt to belittle these victims and is tantamount to attacking public sentiments”.
The minister said the opposition leader’s stand was respectable and such statements were not expected from Achakzai.
He further asserted that the fight against terrorism was not limited to any particular province or district but “is a collective fight for the entire nation”.
“Martyrs are our red line … We are indebted to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our safety and protection,” he said.
Asif went on to say, “We are in the middle of a very bloody war. Daily …”
The defense minister said that “such attacks and behavior, spilling of blood is not allowed in our religion”. “The bodies of our soldiers are beheaded after their martyrdom. This also happens. It happens in the Tirah Valley.”
Turning his attention to politicians, he said, “We are fighting a war for our political interests. If anyone says we are fighting for the country, they are wrong. We are fighting a war for our political interests and power. During the last 60-70 years, whenever someone was dispossessed, they fought for it and there was no underlying principle in that fight.
“And then a voice is raised in this house that it (the army) is a force made up of four districts. I will not use any strong words about this house as it has given me enormous respect.”
But, he continued, if a person crossed a “line drawn in blood” while protecting their political interests, they had no right to “sit in this house”.
The minister also said that “no voice is raised from Balochistan when Punjabis are shot after their identity cards are checked – I don’t believe in provincial discrimination but I take strong exception [to Achakzai’s remark]”.
Achakzai, who attended the House proceedings midway through Asif’s speech, hit back at the defense minister, saying he stood by his words and would continue to speak out against the “enemies of democracy”.
“You have punished us for supporting democracy,” he remarked, raising the question of whether Parliament should “justify martial law”.
The opposition leader also commented that relations with Afghanistan could not improve until “we stop considering the neighboring country as our fifth province”.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan also spoke during the session and raised objection to his party being held responsible for terrorism in the country. “Terrorists are our enemies wherever they are,” he said.
Gohar criticized the government for “using the crutches of the establishment to rule the country”.
Gohar also reminded the defense minister that he used to openly criticize the army in the past and claimed that his statement in the house was “an attempt to divide the nation”.
However, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq asserted that sharing data on the number of martyrs could not be termed as an attempt to divide the nation.
NA adopts 6 bills
During the session, the NA short of quorum also passed six bills amid an outcry from the opposition, with Speaker Sadiq refusing to order a count.
Only 66 members were present in the House at the time of the passage of the bills after the rules were suspended to take them up for immediate consideration.
The bills included the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Pakistan Names and Emblems (Prevention of Unauthorized Use) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the National Archives (Amendment) Bill, the National Archives (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Na26 Development Authority, Pakistan Housing (2026) and the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens (Amendment) Act, 2025.
