Planners, masterminds: It is time that noose of law is also tightened: army

ISLAMABAD: Formation Commanders of Pakistan Army on Wednesday stressed to tighten the noose of law around “the planners and masterminds” who mounted the hate ripened and politically-driven rebellion against the state and state institutions.

The 81st Formation Commanders Conference was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the conference was presided over by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir with Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and all Formation Commanders of the Pakistan Army in attendance.

The forum vowed to tighten the noose of law around the planners and masterminds who mounted the hate ripened and politically-driven rebellion against the state and state institutions to achieve their nefarious design of creating chaos in the country, along with the legal trials of perpetrators and instigators which have commenced.

The forum condemned the incidents of “May 9 Black Day” and reiterated its “first resolve that the desecrators [of] Shuhada Monuments and Jinnah House and attackers of military installations would certainly be brought to justice speedily under the Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, which are the derivatives of the Constitution of Pakistan”.

“In this regard, efforts to create distortions and attempts to take refuge behind imaginary and mirage human rights violations to create [a] smoke screen for hiding the ugly faces of all involved are absolutely futile and do not stand the abundantly collected irrefutable evidences.”

The statement further said, “The forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhada (martyrs) including officers and men of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and Shuhada from civil society who laid [down] their lives for the safety, security and dignity of the country”.

“The State of Pakistan and armed forces will always keep Shuhada and their families in the highest esteem and will continue to honour them,” the press release said.

The participants were briefed on the prevalent environment, challenges to security i.e. both internal and external and their own operational preparedness in response to evolving threats, both traditional and non-traditional, the ISPR said. Addressing the forum, the army chief reiterated that the Pakistan Army would remained committed to the national obligations of safeguarding the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of the country.

The people of Pakistan and their deep bond with the Armed Forces are and will remain central to all our undertakings and events of 25th May were a clear manifestation of same, Gen Munir said. “Hostile forces and their abettors have been trying hard to create societal division and confusion through fake news and propaganda but all such designs will continue to be defeated with the full support of the nation, InshaAllah,” he asserted.

The forum, the ISPR statement continued, concluded that “unfounded and baseless allegations on law enforcement agencies and security forces for custodial torture, human rights abuses and stifling of political activities are meant to mislead the people and malign armed forces in order to achieve trivial vested political interests”.

Furthermore, it went on to say, the conference resolved that endeavours by any quarter to “create obstructions and stymie the conclusive defeat of ill-design of inimical forces will be dealt with iron hands”.

The statement added that the COAS also stressed maintaining high standards of professionalism and motivation during operations and achieving excellence during training of their formations.

The army chief also commended the commanders for their constant focus on the well-being and high state of morale of their soldiers who remained the foundation of the army’s operational readiness, the ISPR said.

“The forum concluded by affirming the resolve to render all sacrifices necessary for the security and stability of the country with the perpetual support of the proud people of Pakistan,” the statement added.

On May 9, former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau with the help of the paramilitary Rangers at the Islamabad High Court in the Al Qadir Trust case — which sparked countrywide protests amid incidents of vandalism and violence.

During the protest, military installations — including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence, ISI office in Faisalabad— and state properties including Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar were damaged.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023