Imran Invokes Jinnah On 'Armed Forces' As 'Servants' In COAS Greeting

Imran Invokes Jinnah On 'Armed Forces' As 'Servants' In COAS Greeting
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday invoked Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's famous remarks on civilian supremacy while 'congratulating' the new military leadership.

In a tweet posted the same day, Khan congratulated Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Sahir Sahmshad Mirza on being appointed against the top military positions. He said he hoped the two will strive to overcome the "trust deficit" prevailing between the State and the nation since eight months. State power, he said, was derived from that of the people.

"Congratulations to Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as new CJCSC & Gen Syed Asim Munir as new COAS. We hope new mly ldrship will work to end prevailing trust deficit that has built up in last 8 months between the nation and the State. Strength of the State is derived from its people."

The PTI supremo shared a photo featuring Jinnah's remarks reiterating civilian supremacy in his tweet. In his remarks, the founder of the country emphasised how the armed forces were "servants of the people". "Do not forget that the armed forces are the servants of the people. You do not make national policy; it is we, the civilians, who decide these issues and it is your duty to carry out these tasks with which you are entrusted."



Analyst Zaigham Khan said on Monday that Khan had failed to ramp up pressure on the establishment. While it earlier appeared that he held some sway over the judiciary, even that impression now seems to be untrue, Zaigham said. The analyst said Khan had similarly failed to mount pressure on the governing coalition.

Khan had announced on Saturday that all party lawmakers will abandon both: national and provincial assemblies. The PTI supremo made the remarks at a power show in garrison city Rawalpindi where the party’s long march for haqeeqi azadi — full sovereignty reached earlier. Khan’s address marks the first time he joined the march following the Wazirabad attempt at his life.