Govt played no role in ex-COAS appointment to Saudi alliance, says PM’s spokesman

Spokesman to the Prime Minister Dr Musaddik Malik has said that joining Saudi-led military alliance is personal decision of former army chief General Raheel Sharif (retired) and PMLN government played no role in his appointment. However, government has no concern on his appointment.

Speaking at Geo New talk show Naya Pakistan hosted by Talat Hussain, the prime minister’s spokesman clarified that it was not the job of the Prime Minister’s House to probe the retired employees about their personal decisions. He said that Raheel Sharif took a personal decision and it was not linked with the Pakistan’s foreign policy. He said that retired army generals had been joining global think-tanks in the past as well. He said if there would be any impact of his appointment on Pakistan policy that would be taken up at the appropriate forum.
Shafqat Mehmood, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said he didn’t believe in the impression that government was unaware of the decision of appointment of General Raheel Sharif (retired). He said that government should ask him to clarify his position on the said alliance.
He cited that National Assembly had opposed the Pakistani involvement in becoming part of any Saudi-led alliance against Yemen hence the decision of the parliament is clear that Pakistan must maintain neutrality and that reflected the national consensus on the issue.
Nafeesa Shah of Pakistan People’s Party said that government had not given any clear statement on the Saudi-led new alliance and Defence Minister gave a vague statement. She urged the government to respect the unanimous decision of the nation of Pakistan who turn down becoming party to disputes of other countries.