Asif criticizes Achakzai’s remarks on the “strength of the four districts”; the opposition leader sticks to his words
Khawaja Muhammad Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The influence of the armed forces in the country’s political system dominated debates in the National Assembly on Wednesday, with the Treasury defending their role while the opposition stressed it must be strictly defined by the Constitution.
The National Assembly paid tribute to the armed forces for their unprecedented sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, honoring all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
A resolution, presented by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, reaffirmed the House’s commitment that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not go in vain and underlined that the nation stands firmly with the armed forces in this ongoing struggle.
The resolution praised the professional capabilities, courage and dedication of the military, declaring full support for its continued efforts to safeguard national security, maintain stability and maintain peace throughout the country.
Earlier in the debate, Asif criticized Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai for his recent remarks on the army, calling his statement “irresponsible” and an attempt to “minimize the sacrifices” of security personnel.
Asif quoted Achakzai as saying the army was a “four-district force,” but did not provide additional context for his remarks.
Calling it “highly irresponsible” and a “deliberate attempt to malign” the national institution, the defense minister said the army was a national force. “This is the strength of the federation, with representation from all the provinces,” he underlined. “This is the strength of the whole country.”
During his speech, the minister also shared data on the representation of different provinces in the army, reading statistics from a document.
According to the document, the provincial representation, as per the population of Army districts, as per Census 2023, was 51.1 percent for Punjab, Sindh (20.52%), KP (16.28%), Balochistan (6.04%), AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan (2.54%) and 3.52 percent for minority communities.
The minister stressed that the armed forces have made several sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. “In the last five years, 3,141 military personnel, including officers, junior officers and jawans, have accepted martyrdom in this fight,” the defense minister said, adding that these martyrs came from all parts 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 minimize these sacrifices and amounts to an attack on public opinion.”
The minister said the opposition leader’s position 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 “was a collective struggle of the entire nation.”
“The martyrs are our red line… We are indebted to the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for our security and protection,” he said.
Asif went on to say: “We are in the middle of a very bloody war. Every day…”
The Defense Minister said that “such attacks and behavior, such bloodshed are not allowed in our religion.” “The bodies of our soldiers are beheaded after their martyrdom. This is also happening. This is happening in 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, then he is wrong. We are fighting a war for our political interests and our power. Over the last 60 to 70 years, whenever someone was deprived of power, they fought for it, and there was no underlying principle in that struggle.
“And then a voice arises in this house that (the army) is a force of four districts. I don’t want to use strong words for this house because it has earned me immense respect.”
But, he continued, if an individual crossed a “line drawn in blood” while safeguarding his political interests, he did not have the right to “sit in this house”.
The minister also said that “no voice is raised from Balochistan when Punjabis are gunned down after their ID cards are checked – I don’t believe in provincial discrimination, but I strongly oppose it.” [to Achakzai’s remark]”.
Achakzai, who joined the proceedings of the House amid Asif’s speech, responded to the defense minister, saying he stood by his words and would continue to speak against the “enemies of democracy”.
“You punished us for supporting democracy,” he remarked, raising the question of whether Parliament was supposed to “justify martial law.”
The opposition leader also said 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, opposing his party being blamed 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 run 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”.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, however, maintained that sharing data on the number of martyrs could not be termed as an attempt to divide the nation.
NA passes 6 bills
During the session, the NA, lacking a quorum, also passed six bills amid an outcry from the opposition, with President Sadiq refusing to order a count.
Only 66 members were present in the House when the bills were passed after the rules were suspended for immediate consideration.
The bills included the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Pakistan Names and Emblems (Prevention of Unauthorized Use) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the National Archives (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Naya Housing and Development Authority Bill Pakistan (Amendment), 2026 and senior citizens of Islamabad Capital Territory. (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
