Army is a national institution, says ISPR chief

[maravan91]

Army is a national institution, says ISPR chief
KARACHI: The army is a national institution where every Pakistani can serve irrespective of his or her religion.

The assertion came from Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), when he was responding to a question during a television interview on Thursday night.

“We have heard about that [retired Capt Mohammad Safdar’s ]demand,” Maj Gen Ghafoor told Kamran Khan of Dunya TV about the former’s speech in the National Assembly.

“Let me tell you that the Pakistan Army is a national army... It’s not true that army can be joined only by Muslims because we are a Muslim country... We proudly say that the army is an institution, which is the best example of national integration.”

The ISPR director general went on to say that there was no space for bias on the grounds of religion, ethnicity and sects and there were a number of non-Muslims who were currently serving in the armed forces.

“When we put on the uniform we are a Pakistani soldier only, irrespective of our religion, irrespective of our province and irrespective of our clan,” he said.

“Right now, we have Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis [in the army]. So if someone says ban them... Well, I would say that there is a lawmaking body. And if it brings any such law then this point should be discussed.”

While speaking in the National Assembly, Captain Safdar, a former serviceman, had said that he wanted to bring a resolution in the legislature calling for a [“ban on recruitment of Qadianis Ahmadis] in the armed forces”.
Elaborating on the army’s recruitment process for Muslims, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: “Every Muslim officer recruited in the army files a certificate in which he declares that he’s not an Ahmadi and believes in Khatm-i-Nubuwwat.”
Capt Safdar might have forgotten, but he too gave that undertaking when he joined the army, added the ISPR chief.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2017

httpswwwdawncom/news/1363487/army-is-a-national-institution-says-ispr-chief

 

[AUz]

Pakistan Army is a Muslim Army. Historically, non-Muslims have served in great Islamic armies throughout centuries. Intact, the Ottoman Islamic armies that conquered Constantinople and European lands beyond had significant numbers of non-Muslim soldiers and miners fighting under their banners.

 

[Max]

Elaborating on the army’s recruitment process for Muslims, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: “Every Muslim officer recruited in the army files a certificate in which he declares that he’s not an Ahmadi and believes in Khatm-i-Nubuwwat.”
Capt Safdar might have forgotten, but he too gave that undertaking when he joined the army, added the ISPR chief.

non Muslim soldiers are not required to fill that, what's wrong with it? why you highlighted this part?

 

[Secur]

Elaborating on the army’s recruitment process for Muslims, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: “Every Muslim officer recruited in the army files a certificate in which he declares that he’s not an Ahmadi and believes in Khatm-i-Nubuwwat.”

Let me explain it, to you, since you have highlighted it in bold. The fact that you are required to confirm your belief before taking part in a variety of things related to the functioning of the state isn't exactly discriminatory. It is just to confirm whether you are a Muslim or not. Because if you aren't, you probably shouldn't be calling yourself that. The treatment of certain minorities is far from human and needs to improve massively, though, specially since it has been established beyond the shadow of the doubt that they are a minority and hence eligible for preferential treatment different than the rest.

The perquisite of being considered a Muslim "by others" is attesting that 1. First, there is no God except Allah - the monotheism 2. And that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is Allah's last messenger - the finality of the Prophet-hood or Khatam-e-Nabuwwat. The rest you can do as you please and you will still be considered a Muslim, even if a bad or non-practicing one. But this is mandatory and there's no going past it. Just exactly how you are required to have a MBBS degree before being considered a medical doctor or a BE before considered an engineer.

 

[Zen0]

Why not just say GOD, why Allah .Hindus, sikhs,jains,Buddhists etc don't believe in the existence of your god.

Compare oaths of other non biased nations

India

I, ________________ do swear in the name of god that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the constitution of India as by the law established and that I will, as in duty bound, honesty and faithfully serve in the regular army of the union of India and go wherever ordered by land, sea or air and that I will observe and obey all commands of the president of the union of India, and the commands of any officer set over even to the peril of my life.

Form of Affirmation.

I, _____________ do solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the constitution of India as by the law established and that I will, as in duty bound, honesty and faithfully serve in the regular army of the union of India and go wherever ordered, by land, sea or air and that I will observe and obey all commands of the President of the Union of India and the commands of any officer set over me even to the peril of my life.

USA

I, _____, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.

Nearly all your laws & governance is Islamic in nature, so no. Pakistan is one of the last countries to be


"National army"

 

[The Eagle]

Why not just say GOD, why Allah .Hindus, sikhs,jains,Buddhists etc don't believe in the existence of your god.

Non-Muslim does not sign such oath but declare him/herself as whatever he/she is. Seems like someone discovered a thing which was not known to civilization at all yet ended here with a breaking news and boom. One should speak about only thing that knows well. Pakistan Army and its rule so this is not about US or anyone else as we don't need an example of moral at all to follow while on other hand, Pakistan Army's discipline, work and conduct speaks volume for such alleged issues.

Capt. R. Safdar is merely doing what his father in law (the Jindal business partner) has to do but as being proven incompetent by the Courts, hence, all the fuss and drama to divert attention from real issues.

 

[Chhatrapati]

@Zen0 Why you people are surprised? It's not even material for a thread, well laid down facts.

Pakistan is officially Islamic republic of Pakistan. It's a country made for Muslims. It is written in constitution that all laws were to conform to the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah.

 

[Zen0]

Non-Muslim does not sign such oath but declare him/herself as whatever he/she is.

So only Muslims take oaths & pledges or are they tailor made for each religion/ atheist?

My point is Pakistan's army has always been Islamic in nature, national armies are secular by nature .

 

[The Eagle]

So only Muslims take oaths & pledges or are they tailor made for each religion/ atheist?

My point is Pakistan's army has always been Islamic in nature, national armies are secular by nature .

Every Army of other countries is what it has to be in nature per National Interest.

A non-Muslim is not forced to sign an oath which is not related religiously. How come someone sign an Islamic oath not being Muslim hence, properly declares whatever he/she is. However, an interesting picture that speaks louder than words.

https://twitter.com/x/status/918443354781835264

https://twitter.com/x/status/918038818116251648

 

[El Sidd]

This is general knowledge.