Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif lauded state institutions over its decision to perform its role in line with constitutional requirements, saying that democratic forces had been working towards this goal for the last 75 years.

The defence minister’s remarks, in a press conference in Islamabad Thursday, followed those of the military spokesperson Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar and spy chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, in which the two said that the military had decided to stay apolitical, and the decision would be followed by its leadership of the future.

Later in the press conference, when quizzed over his statement lauding the military’s decision to confine itself to its constitutional role, Asif said that it was a major announcement.

“It is rare for two three-star generals to publically acknowledge their mistakes,” he said while referring to coups of the past as blatant instances of the army’s interference in political matters.