COAS Gen Bajwa hopes political parties will review their 'behaviour' following army's 'catharsis'.

RAWALPINDI -- Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday said that the army had initiated its process of 'catharsis' and expected that political parties would follow suit as well and reflect on their behaviour.

'This is the reality that there have been mistakes from every institution, including political parties and civil society," he said during his last address as the army chief during the Defence and Martyrs' Day ceremony at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi

'No single party can take Pakistan out of the current economic crisis,' he said, adding that lessons should be learned from such mistakes so the nation could move forward.

The COAS went on to say that a true democratic culture has to be adopted in Pakistan by eradicating the climate of intolerance.

'In 2018, using RTS as an excuse the winning party was called selected,' he recalled, adding that after being ousted via a no-confidence motion one party named the other as 'imported.'

'We need to reject this attitude, winning and losing is a part of politics and all parties should have courage to accept their defeat or victory so that in next election instead of an imported or selected government an elected government is formed,' he maintained.

The COAS said that armies around the world are seldom criticised, however, Pakistan Army is often subjected to criticism.

'I think reason for that is the army's involvement in politics. That is why in February, the army decided to not interfere in politics. I assure that we [the military] are strictly committed to this and will continue to be.'

He added that instead of welcoming this constitutional process, some factions criticised the military using 'inappropriate and impolite language'.

The COAS said that criticising the army is the public's and political parties' right, but one should be careful with their choice of words.

General Bajwa said that a "fake and false narrative was concocted to instil a state of chaos in the country" and reiterated that the military leadership can do anything but go against the county

'Now an escape route is being taken from this false narrative. The senior military leadership is being addressed with inappropriate titles,' he added.

Berating the PTI's 'foreign conspiracy' narrative, Gen Bajwa said that it is impossible 'or more appropriately this would be a sin' if the army would be sitting idly amid a foreign conspiracy being hatched in the country.

'The Pakistan Army had enough opportunities and...