Pak Army should support govt, not act as a state within the state: Editorial

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Army should show its support to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government by functioning as a part of it instead of coming across as a state within the state, an editorial in a Pakistani newspaper has said.

The opinion in The Daily Times comes after suggestions that the army could topple a non-performing government.

“The military is often hailed as the country’s ’saviour’. It should not disappoint the country in this hour of need,” the editorial said.

It also said that the armed forces should also not ask for ‘payment’ for their ’services’ rendered for the flood-affected victims.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and the government have been under attack for their curtailed flood-relief efforts, but on the other hand the army’s work has been appreciated for its work.

Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani however stressed that the army was a part of the civil administration and it was involved in flood relief activities on the government’ request.

“Those who consider the army and the civil government two separate entities are living in a fool’s paradise,” Gilani had said.

Gilani also pointed out that the PPP government had come to power after winning elections and so the “mandate of people should be respected”. (ANI)