Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that although he sometimes feels tired, a recent meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the National Assembly made him realise that he still had some strength left.
Addressing a gathering in Sialkot, Asif said he entered politics in 1991 and had been serving the country for 36 years. He described Sialkot as his identity and said improving the lives of its people was his responsibility.
Reflecting on his political career, the defence minister said he had experienced several ups and downs. He recalled being imprisoned at Attock Fort during the rule of former president Pervez Musharraf and said he had been jailed four times.
Asif also said that during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in 2020, he spent six months in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). According to him, those who detained him could not clearly explain the charge against him.
Criticising what he described as political victimisation, Asif said governments sometimes arrest people first and only afterwards decide what charges to bring against them. He argued that retaliatory politics was not in the country's interest.
Discussing the conflict with India, Asif said Pakistan had defeated an enemy five times its size. He described the conflict as a significant achievement for Pakistan and its armed forces.
The defence minister also highlighted the armed forces' prolonged fight against terrorism. He said educated and skilled young people could play a major role in national development, describing the youth as a valuable asset for Pakistan.
