ISPR condemns social media campaign over chopper crash, deems it ‘regretful’

RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday issued a statement regretting disrespectful campaign flooding social media after the ill-fated helicopter crash on August 1, in which six soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred.

The military’s media wing said that the campaign has caused “deep anguish and distress” among the families of the martyrs and those within the ranks of armed forces.

“While the whole nation stood with the institution in this difficult time, certain insensitive quarters resorted to hurtful and derogatory comments on social media,” the statement read, adding that the campaign is “unacceptable and highly condemnable”.

On August 1, a military helicopter lost contact with the air traffic control while it was en route from Quetta to Karachi. The chopper went missing while conducting flood relief operations in Balochistan.

Following hours of search operation, the military’s media wing confirmed that the wreckage of the unfortunate helicopter was found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela. All six officers and soldiers on board were martyred in the accident, which occurred due to bad weather as per initial investigations.

Speaking on Geo News show Naya Pakistan, Director General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar condemned the negative propaganda on social media which took off after the crash.

“We have been distressed since the accident on August 1. The propaganda has caused immense pain, particularly to the families of the martyrs,” the DG ISPR said, emphasising that this should not happen.

He said that elements spreading negative propaganda and rumours should be rejected. “Insensitive behavior is unacceptable and should be condemned at every platform,” the DG ISPR asserted.

Maj Gen Iftikhar added that the Pakistan Army is grateful for the nation which stands by them and the martyrs.

He also commented on the killing of Ayman Al-Zawahiri and the rumors concerning the use of Pakistan’s air space in the process.

“The Foreign Ministry has issued a clear statement regarding Ayman Al-Zawahiri. It is impossible that Pakistan’s soil has been used for this,” he said, adding that irrelevant comments are made without any evidence.

Commenting on three years since India’s abrogated Article 370 ending Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir’s special autonomous status, the DG ISPR said, Pakistan Army stands with the people of Kashmir.

“The issue of Kashmir must be resolved and we will work toward it at every platform,” he maintained.