ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif said on Monday that parliament would decide the role of Pakistan in the conflict in Yemen.

Talking to a group of reporters at the presidency after a reception hosted by President Mamnoon Hussain in honour of Sri Lankan President Maithripapa Sirisena, the army chief said: “The debate is going on; let us see what will be decided.”

Gen Sharif’s remarks came at the time when a joint sitting of parliament is debating the conflict in Yemen and whether Pakistan should meet Saudi Arabia’s request to join a coalition of Arab states trying to crush Houthi rebels.

Take a look: Much ado about PTI at joint session to debate Yemen dilemma

Answering a question about the Zarb-i-Azb military operation in tribal areas, the army chief said it was progressing smoothly. “You will hear good news about the operation,” he said.

“It will be completed successfully soon,” he added.

APP adds: Meanwhile, Gen Raheel Sharif praised efforts made by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) to meet the requirements of arms and ammunition for the Zarb-i-Azb operation against terrorists in North Waziristan.

Addressing its management and staff during a visit to the POF in Wah on Monday, he said that it was a premier defence industry of the country making invaluable contribution to sustaining combat worthiness of the armed forces.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Gen Raheel praised the POF management for its dedication to optimise the output and stressed the need for technological upgradation and maximum indigenisation to attain self-reliance in defence production.

The army chief was briefed by the POF chairman on the performance of the chain of factories and expansion plans.

The envisaged modernisation and increase in production capacity would enhance the standard of manufacturing and save foreign exchange, he was told.

Gen Sharif also visited the manufacturing facilities.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2015

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