May 9 rioters, plotters need to be penalised: Army

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army on Tuesday gave a categorical message that there would be no deal or talks with perpetrators of May 9 violence, maintaining that such elements were left with only one option — earnestly apologise to the nation for their crimes.

At a news briefing, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General (ISPR DG) Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasised that the perpetrators and facilitators of the May 9 riots need to be punished as per the Constitution and law of the land to preserve trust in country’s justice system.

He said all political leadership and forces were respectable but no talks were possible with those political group and leaders who attack their own armed forces, insult martyrs, create gulf and hatred between people and armed forces.

He said that such elements were left with the only option of sincerely apologising to the nation and pledging to give up politics of hatred and start constructive politics. “We cannot talk with such groups which spread anarchy in the country and create gulf and hatred between people and armed forces,” he said.

He maintained talks are held and deals made between political forces and not between army and political leadership.

The DG said that May 9 was not only the case of the armed forces alone but also of the whole nation. “In which country it happens that house of founder of the nation is attacked and sensitive installations of armed forces are attacked,” Major General Ahmed Sharif asked.

He said it would a big question mark on the judicial system of the country if preparators and those involved in such heinous crimes are not taken to task at the earliest. “We feel and believe that, to keep trust in the judicial system of the country, both perpetrators and those physically involved in all such acts would have to be taken to task,” he said.

He pointed out though riots in London in 2011 and the Capitol Hill building in the US were of lesser intensity, (justice systems in) the two countries punished the rioters according to the law of the land in the shortest possible time. “The tragic incidents are bound to happen again if you do not take the miscreant elements to task,” he said, adding that if a particular group continues to indulge in such acts with impunity, one day its members will invade their own armed forces.

Maj Gen Ahmed said if the perpetrators are not punished accordingly, the lives, honour and properties of people would not remain safe. “ If you have to maintain trust in the judicial system of the country, they will have to be punished accordingly as soon as possible,” he said.

He said that the Pakistan Army has completed its accountability regarding the May 9 incidents, and asked why those involved have not been taken to task so far.

He said what happened on May 9 were not hidden facts and all had seen how a fake narrative was created against armed forces and how political leaders gave targets and planned attacks only on military installations. “You must also have seen that how people disassociated with those miscreants,” he said.

“One cannot fool all the people all the time,” he said.

On the occasion, a documentary on the May 9 incidents was also shown in which Dr Yasmeen Rashid was heard saying they would go towards the residence of the Corps Commander. It also showed clips of the violent mob attacking GHQ, the Corps Commander’s residence in Lahore and other installations while Sheharyar Afridi was heard saying that InshaAllah, they would move towards GHQ. “You can see as to how innocent youth was incited against their armed forces,” the DG ISPR said.

The DG ISPR said that a judicial commission is sought if there is any confusion about a happening. “But in this case, everything is crystal clear about those behind May 9 violence,” he said.

However, he stressed that if a judicial commission is to be formed then this whole incident must be probed in depth.

“The [judicial] commission should also look into what were the objectives of 2014 sit-in [...] how the parliament and the PTV [building] was attacked.

“And how Islamabad was stormed by using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources in 2022,” the DG ISPR said.

“The forum should also look into how lobbying firms were hired abroad, how letters were written to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and from where the funding was coming from and where it was being channelled to,” the military’s spokesperson added.

Such a commission, the DG said, should also see how letters were written to the IMF and other forums against dealing with the government of Pakistan to push it into an economic default situation. The commission should also trace where such elements were receiving funding.

He said that the issue of missing persons is very complicated, added the names of some terrorists killed in encounters were also included in the list of disappeared people. He said the cases of 7,940 out of 10,218 missing persons have been resolved according to the data of the inquiry commission.

“How does it happen that names of those who illegally migrated to other countries and are working with TTP in Afghanistan have been added to the list. The name of BLA terrorist Habibullah killed in an encounter also made to the list,” he said.

The DG ISPR said that even in Western countries the number of missing persons goes into the tens of thousands but in Pakistan, propaganda is built by political forces, NGOs, media and social media activists.

To a question about the closure of ‘X” formerly Twitter, he said a false narrative is built regarding armed forces. “ The freedom of expression under Article 19 does not allow creating and building false narratives,” Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said. He said that nobody could be allowed to put a country’s existence and the dignity of an institution at stake in the name of freedom of expression.

“We feel that the executive and judiciary will ensure strict implementation of the already existing and upcoming laws concerning false propaganda on social media,” he said. Asked whether ‘X” will be reopened, the military spokesman said it was not the proper forum to take such decisions.

To a question about the February 8 election outcome, he said out of 65 million voters, only 18 million voted for a specific party which was 31pc of all votes in total. He said that there were 69pc voters who did not accept their narrative. Referring to one of the independent surveys, he said that 70 percent of people said they were standing by with the armed forces.

Major General Ahmad Sharif said that the Pakistan Army has always remained non-political and only has a constitutional relationship with every government. To a question about allegations of massive rigging against the Pakistan Army in the election, he said that the Army’s role in general elections was confined to only the mandate given by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is to provide a secure environment for smooth conduct of polls. “We did not play any role more than providing safe environment for the conduct of general elections,” he said.

He said those levelling such allegations, should come up with solid evidence before concerned institutions. “We talk based on facts and not on mere fake narrative and false allegations,” he said, adding Pakistan’s democracy is facing threats only from such undemocratic behaviours.

To a question about the dismissal or forced retirement of ex-Corps Commander Mangla Ayman Bilal Safdar, the DG ISPR said that the Pakistan Army follows a very strict and transparent system of self-accountability which comes into action against indiscipline or corruption. The DG ISPR said that self-accountability gets harder when it comes to a senior officer because they are supposed to be more responsible. “Our accountability system works on the basis of facts and not merely on allegations,” he said.

Talking about contributions to the total tax collections, Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif said that only the Pakistan Army contributed Rs100 billion and sub-ordinates organisations like Fauji Foundation and Defence Housing Authority paid Rs260 billion as direct taxes and duties during the fiscal year 2022-23.

To another question, he said the Pakistan Army in SIFC was playing the role of facilitator and coordinator and helping out technically and professionally concerned institutions and organizations. “ This is not happening the first time in Pakistan. The past governments have also been utilizing services of Pakistan Army economic and general well-being of people,” he said.

Responding to a question about allegations of six judges of Islamabad High Court against intelligence agencies, he said the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court. To another question regarding handing over military bases to another country, the DG ISPR termed the notion as ridiculous and strongly rebutted any such development. He also pledged that the military leadership would never do this in future as well. To a question about the involvement of an ex-DG ISI in the affairs of a housing society, the military spokesman said that following directives by the Supreme Court, a two-member was conducting an inquiry which would give its recommendations.

Major General Ahmed Sharif said that the Pakistan Army is committed to dismantling terrorist groups disclosing that the plot to kill Chinese engineers in Besham was hatched in neighboring Afghanistan. He said the suicide bomber was an Afghan national and the vehicle used in the attack was also prepared in that country saying that other key culprits have been arrested by the law enforcement agencies. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said security forces conducted 13,135 Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) against terrorists and their facilitators starting from January this year. During these operations, 249 terrorists were killed 396 were apprehended and two officers and 60 soldiers embraced Shahadat.

The DG ISPR reiterated that Pakistan had always helped Afghanistan and reminded the interim government in Kabul that one of its pledges made to Pakistan was not to let the Afghan soil be used for any terror acts against the latter. Maj Gen Ahmed said despite all the efforts by Pakistan and pointing it out to the Afghan interim government, the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) terrorists are continuously committing acts of terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan, he said, had provided concrete evidence but no action was taken from the Afghan authorities. The DG ISPR said that there was credible evidence that the TTP terrorists were still using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan. In that regard, he mentioned, the Foreign Office had registered 12 protests.

The army chief had taken a clear stance that Pakistan had strong reservations about the hideouts of banned outfits in Afghanistan. “We will make the Pak-Afghan border a normal border with documented movement,” he said. He said that everyone knows that Pakistan tried its best to ensure peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan. However, the repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals is now in the larger interest of Pakistan.

The DG ISPR said that there are 29,000 Chinese nationals in Pakistan of these, 2500 are engaged with CPEC-related projects. Maj Gen Ahmed Sharif said ensuring the security of all Chinese nationals is government’s top priority and all possible steps are being taken in this regard. The DG ISPR said the attack on Chinese engineers was aimed at sabotaging the Pakistan-China friendship and hurting the CPEC project.

Regarding Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Saudi Arabia is taking a keen interest in helping Pakistan’s economy and it is unfortunate that some political elements do not hesitate to harm Islamabad’s relations with friendly countries. “We have special defence, security and friendly relations which are reflected in visits of Prime Minister and Army Chief,” he said.

He said that the prime minister and foreign minister had time and again expressed thanks to Saudi Arabia for investing in Pakistan boosting the country’s economy. About a fake narrative by leaders of a political party of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in regime change, he said it was highly regrettable and reflected a condemnable political thought. “ This thought does not want to see Pakistan economically prosper and such elements can go to any extent to damage relations with friendly countries,” he said.

Referring to the situation on the eastern border, the DG ISPR said Pakistan’s civil and military leadership is fully cognizant of the planning being made in India to divert attention from its internal difficulties. Alluding to the Indian ceasefire violations, the DG ISPR said the Pakistan Army has responded in a befitting manner and it will continue to do so in future. There have many ceasefire violations including 59 technical violations, 16 air space and 120 other violations.

He said Pakistan stands by their Kashmiri brothers and sisters and will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to them for their right to self-determination. He said India is also involved in extra-territorial killings of Sikhs. He said there is also evidence of the involvement of India in the assassination of people inside Pakistan.