Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that Pervez Musharraf was in poor health, adding that there was consensus in the military leadership on his return to the country.

“Musharraf’s family has been contacted to bring him back. The decision is up to his family, however, arrangements can be made only after the response of his family,” the military’s spokesperson said in an interview on Dunya News program On the Front with host Kamran Shahid on Tuesday.

Replying to a question about the defence budget, the military’s spokesperson clarified that there had been no increase in the defence budget since 2020.

“The defense budget is always debated. In the context of inflation, the defense budget has been reduced. India’s defense budget increases every year,” he said, adding the army was fulfilling all its responsibilities within the limited resources.

Speaking about Army Chief’s visit to China, the DG ISPR said that it was a very important visit.

“China has always stood by us. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen relations because relations with China are crucial for peace in the region.”

He said that COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa was the first Army Chief who met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The DG ISPR said that China had played an important role in enhancing Pakistan’s defense capabilities, adding that Pak-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) security had not diminished in any way.

Refuting PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s claims of a foreign conspiracy to out his government, he clarified that there was no conspiracy against the previous government.

He said that Sheikh Rashid’s statement regarding external correspondence was not correct. “Apart from the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, the three Services Chiefs were also present in the meeting” he added.

He said that the participants of the meeting were clearly told that there was no evidence of any conspiracy.

“Rumors are being spread against Pak army. No one has the right to criticize institutions by resorting to lies.”