Director General Pak Armed Forces Media Wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Monday reaffirmed the military’s position on the May 9 violent protests, saying that those responsible for the riots must face consequences.
“The Army’s stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 press conference. There has been no change in that, nor will there be,” he said while addressing media on Pakistan’s security situation and measures taken against terrorism in the country.
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Riots broke out in many parts of the country, especially in the garrison town, with charged mobs vandalising private and public properties including military installations following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9.
In a press conference after one year anniversary of the violent protests, the DG ISPR had said that the perpetrators and facilitators of the May 9 riots need to be punished as per the Constitution and law to preserve the credibility and faith in the country’s justice system.
Today, Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that there was no change in army’s stance on the matter. He said that the elements involved in “digital terrorism” and spreading propaganda to drive a wedge between armed forces and masses will face the law.
“First of all, the first line of defence against digital terrorism is the law. Unfortunately, the falsehood and propaganda are very high on social media, as fake news and doctored images are posted to create a confusion in the minds of the people,” the chief military spokesperson said.
“The law is not taking its course against it, but the armed forces take it very seriously,” he said adding that legal action will be taken against those — either in Pakistan or abroad — involved in running propaganda against the military.
On May 7 2024, DG ISPR had said that that any dialogue with the PTI could happen only if it “earnestly apologises publicly in front of the nation”.
“No talks will be held with any political leader, or group which attacks its own army and indulges in propaganda [against them]”.
“There can be no dialogue with an anarchist group,” he noted adding that the “only way forward for the anarchists [group] is to apologise sincerely, abandon the politics of hate and indulge in constructive politics [instead],” he said.
Addressing the presser today, the military’s spokesperson said that Pakistani security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted 23,622 small and large-scale intelligence-based operations across the country this year. Of these, 2,045 operations were carried out in the last 15 days, resulting in the elimination of 24 terrorists.
The DG ISPR announced that the Government of Pakistan has officially designated the TTP as “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term that will be used to refer to the group and its associated terrorists, who will be termed “Kharji” (outcasts).
Lt Gen Chaudhry paid tribute to the 139 soldiers of the Pakistani security forces who have embraced martyrdom in the first seven months of 2024.
The army spokesperson highlighted the military’s contribution to education, saying “Pakistan Army is providing digital education to youth and running 92 schools in Balochistan, with over 19,000 students receiving education. Additionally, the army has established 171 schools and three cadet colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, DG ISPR Ahmed Shari reiterated the Pakistan army’s support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), condemning the inhuman lockdown, illegal demographic changes, and human rights violations in the region.
“We are aware of the inhuman lockdown, illegal ways to change the region’s demographics and human rights violations that are a defiance of international law and are a danger to the region.”
To bring peace to the region, it is inevitable to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions and in line with the hopes of the Kashmiri people, he said.
He called for the need to resolve the Kashmir issue as per UN resolutions and in line with the hopes of the Kashmiri people to bring peace to the region.
