Here's why KP CM Gandapur missed COAS Asim Munir's field marshal ceremony

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was absent from the ceremony marking Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir’s formal elevation to field marshal.

While the other three chief ministers attended the event, Gandapur’s absence from the event was widely noticed. The KP chief minister’s spokesperson, Faraz Mughal, responded to this by providing an explanation.

“Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was attending a party meeting for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan,” said the spokesperson while giving the reason that caused the KP chief minister to skip the function.

The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, Imran has been behind bars since August 2023 in scores of cases, which he describes as politically motivated. The charges levelled against him in these cases include receiving foreign gifts, involvement in inciting for attacks on military installments, and carrying out arson. 

In recognition of his exemplary and exceptional leadership during Pakistan’s recent military clashes with India and the successful execution of “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, the federal government on Tuesday elevated COAS Munir to the rank of field marshal.

The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government approved the promotion of COAS Munir to the rank of field marshal for ensuring the security of the country and defeating the enemy via the best strategy and courageous leadership during “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”.

The rank of field marshal, a five-star designation, is the highest position in the Pakistan Army, placed above the rank of a general.

President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz on Thursday jointly conferred the baton of field marshal upon Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir during a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad.

Addressing the ceremony at the President House, the president said that it was a matter of great pleasure for him to confer the baton of field marshal upon COAS Munir in recognition of his extraordinary services to Pakistan during the turbulent period and with full confidence in his command and character.

On this occasion, PM Shehbaz said the nation salutes their national heroes, Field Marshal Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

“You have led our brave armed forces to a remarkable victory against an enemy, caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris,” the premier added.

During his interaction with senior journalists at the ceremony, the field marshal lauded the role of Pakistani media during the Pakistan-India war, saying: “Media is our pride. You people have told the world that we only speak the truth.”

He said that the press is the fourth pillar of state. “You fought the battle alongside us,” the field marshal told the journalists.