Defence Minister Khawaja Asif addressed the National Assembly on Wednesday. He said the Pakistan Army does not belong to any province or district. The army represents the entire nation.
Asif was responding to remarks by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai. Achakzai had allegedly suggested that the army belongs to only four districts. Asif strongly rejected this claim. He said, “The Pakistan Army is a national institution. Its loyalty is to the people of Pakistan, not to any single region.”
The minister highlighted the sacrifices of the armed forces over the past five years. He said 3,141 personnel were martyred across the country. This includes officers, junior commissioned officers, and soldiers. Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported the highest number of casualties at 2,034. Punjab followed with 1,657 deaths, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 534, Sindh 452, Gilgit-Baltistan 161, and Balochistan 103.
Asif criticized opposition remarks as irresponsible. He warned against putting politics above national unity. “This is a war of the entire nation, not of a single district,” he said. He also urged lawmakers to respect the sacrifices of the armed forces.
The minister expressed concern about security in the country. He noted that even mosques are no longer fully safe. He questioned the lack of response to attacks on Punjabis in Balochistan. Asif emphasized that the armed forces remain loyal to Pakistan above all else.
He also spoke about Afghan migration. He said Afghanistan is now governed by its own people. There is no longer a reason for large-scale migration to Pakistan.
Opposition Leader Achakzai spoke during the session as well. He demanded fair representation and equitable governance for all provinces. He criticized past comments regarding ethnic groups and regions. Achakzai vowed to continue advocating for democracy.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar also criticized the government. He accused ministers of dragging the army into political debates. He warned against using armed forces for political gains. Gohar claimed that such statements create divisions and weaken national unity.
The National Assembly passed a resolution honoring the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The resolution recognized their efforts in the fight against terrorism.
Several bills were passed during the session. These included amendments to the Pakistan Citizenship Act, the Narcotics Control Authority, and the New Pakistan Housing and Development Authority. Opposition members raised concerns about quorum. They argued that only 66 members were present while 86 were required. The speaker confirmed the quorum and allowed the proceedings to continue.
