Army rubbishes allegation of interfering in political affairs

The Pakistan Army has rejected opposition’s censure of interfering in political affairs, suggesting there is no reason for the opposition coalition — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — to march on Rawalpindi, a metonym for the army’s headquarters.

While responding to a question at a news conference on Monday, military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said: “I do not see any reason for them to come to Rawalpindi. If they ever come, we will serve them ‘chai-pani’ (tea and water). We will look after them well.”

After a meeting of the 10-party alliance at Raiwind on Jan 1, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had hinted that the intentional long march could also be directed to Rawalpindi.