LAHORE: A senior security official on Tuesday termed Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s remarks about the Pakistan Army as “unfortunate” and “based on falsehood,” stressing that the armed forces represent the entire nation.
Speaking to journalists in Lahore, the official said that dialogue was the right of all political parties, adding that the army had no role in politics. He maintained that all legal and judicial matters should be decided by courts in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
Achakzai, during a National Assembly session a day earlier, had described the Pakistan Army as a “force of four districts,” drawing strong criticism from the treasury benches.
Referring to the prevailing security situation, the senior official said recent engagements aimed at restoring peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were encouraging. He added that visits to educational institutions reflected that the youth stood firmly with the armed forces, and no narrative could weaken the bond between the people and the military.
He emphasised that the fight against terrorism was a collective national responsibility, not limited to the army, police or Frontier Corps. Alleging external involvement in unrest, the official said India was behind sponsored terrorism in Pakistan and termed “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” an enemy of the Baloch people and an obstacle to Balochistan’s development.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing the lower house, described Achakzai’s statement as irresponsible and an attempt to malign a national institution. While acknowledging the opposition leader’s right to hold an opinion, he said criticism of the armed forces should not undermine national unity.
“The Pakistan Army represents the entire country. Its identity is national, not regional,” Asif said, adding that the armed forces had rendered immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
Citing official figures, the minister said 3,141 security personnel had embraced martyrdom over the past five years. From 2021 to February 2026, he said, 170 officers, 212 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and 2,759 soldiers had been martyred.
He further stated that more than 200 terrorists had been killed in Balochistan and reiterated that Islam did not permit bloodshed, noting that security personnel continued to face brutal attacks.
Responding on the floor of the House, Achakzai stood by his remarks, saying his people had made significant sacrifices and had long supported democratic principles. He claimed that certain policies had economically marginalised Pashtuns and called for representation in governance in proportion to population.
Questioning the role of parliament, he asked whether the legislature existed to legitimise martial laws, while adding that he respected an army that remained within constitutional limits.