Pak Army Chief Backs Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari Led “Unified Govt”

Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir has hinted at backing Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and Asif Ali Zardari-led PPP to form a “unified government”.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Munir said, “Elections and democracy are means to serve people of Pakistan and not ends in themselves. The nation needs stable hands and a healing touch to move on from the politics of anarchy and polarisation which does not suit a progressive country of 250 million people.”

He further added, “Elections are not a zero-sum competition of winning and losing but an exercise to determine the mandate of the people. Political leadership and their workers should rise above self-interests and synergise efforts in governing and serving the people which is perhaps the only way to make democracy functional and purposeful.”

The Army in Pakistan directly influences and interferes in the country’s government formation process. The Army chief’s statement seems to be supporting the alliance government with Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N.

This stance of the Pakistan Army comes at a time when the Imran Khan’s PTI-backed candidates have won 94, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N 63, and Zardari’s PPP 50 national assembly seats with the final results still being awaited.