Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says effective governance is vital for national security and implementation of the National Action Plan.
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — WEB DESK: Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said that good governance is essential to addressing Pakistan’s national challenges, stressing that sustainable progress cannot be achieved without effective administration and adherence to the Constitution.
Speaking during a press briefing on counterterrorism and the country’s security situation in Rawalpindi, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had expressed his personal opinion in an earlier statement, but added that governance remains a critical factor in resolving the country’s issues.
Good governance linked to national security
The ISPR chief said all political stakeholders had reached consensus on the 14-point National Action Plan (NAP), describing it as the country’s agreed framework for combating terrorism.
He said Pakistan’s security and long-term stability depend not only on security operations but also on effective governance and institutional performance.
“If problems are not being resolved, it means more needs to be done to improve governance,” he said.
Constitution and Rule of Law
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said good governance is a fundamental right of Pakistan’s citizens and stressed that the country’s young population expects efficient institutions and equal application of the law.
He said Pakistan’s Constitution and legal system apply equally to all citizens.
Responding to questions about the term “hard state,” he said a hard state is one in which all affairs are conducted strictly according to the Constitution and the law, adding that the term does not imply military rule or military control of the state.
He also said loyalty to the state is a shared responsibility for all citizens.
