Resolution honours martyrs as opposition clashes over army, quorum and new laws in NA
\n ISLAMABAD
\nDefence Minister Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the Pakistan Army does not belong to any single province or district but represents the entire nation.
\nResponding to remarks by Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who purportedly said the army belongs to only four districts, Asif said: \u201cWhile Mahmood Achakzai may hold his views, he should not attack the military. The Pakistan Army is not the army of any province or district. Its character is national.\u201d
\nHe said that in the past five years, 3,141 personnel have been martyred across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh.
\n\u201cIn this war against terrorism, we suffer losses every day,\u201d he added.
\nProviding figures from 2021 to February 2026, Asif said: \u201cFrom 2021 to February 2026, 170 officers have laid down their lives. Junior commissioned officers have given 212, and soldiers 2,759 martyrdoms.\u201d
\nHe said Azad Jammu and Kashmir accounted for 2,034 deaths. \u201cFrom Balochistan, our forces have given 103 martyrs, and from Gilgit-Baltistan 161. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has seen 534, Punjab 1,657, and Sindh 452 sacrifices by our armed forces.\u201d
\nAsif criticised what he called irresponsible statements by the opposition. \u201cThe Leader of the Opposition is a national office. Such an irresponsible statement demeans this position. This is a war of the entire nation, not of a single district.\u201d
\nHe cautioned lawmakers against putting politics above national unity. \u201cDo not cross the line drawn in blood to protect personal politics. Mahmood Khan Achakzai may be imitated, but I have a long-standing relationship with him,\u201d he said.
\nThe minister said no place was safe and that even mosques were no longer secure. He also questioned the lack of reaction over attacks on Punjabis in Balochistan. \u201cWhen Punjabis are shot, there is rarely any outcry from Balochistan.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cThose who sacrifice do not question; their first and last loyalty is to their country.\u201d
\nReferring to Afghan migration, Asif said: \u201cNo longer does a foreigner sit at the helm in Afghanistan; it is their own government made of Afghans, so they should return. The reasons for Afghan migration have ended.\u201d
\n\u201cEvery province has shed blood in the fight against terrorism. We have no differences regarding the Constitution and principles. We will account for every single drop of our blood,\u201d he said.
\nEarlier, Achakzai told the House: \u201cPakistan is our country. We want our share according to population. We want our share in governance.\u201d
\nHe criticised past remarks about ethnic groups and provinces, saying: \u201cWhen you call Afghanistan the fifth province, your relations cannot be right. You had said Bengalis are not fit for the army.\u201d
\n\u201cYou gave us punishments for supporting democracy. You caused the Pashtuns economic self-destruction,\u201d he said, adding that he would continue to speak for democracy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Resolution honours martyrs as opposition clashes over army, quorum and new laws in NA ISLAMABAD Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the Pakistan Army does not belong to any single province or district but represents the entire nation. Responding to remarks by Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530782,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-530766","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n