Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif said on Tuesday that “nothing was hidden about May 9” and dismissed the narrative that the events were orchestrated and a false flag operation.
Last year on May 9, supporters of PTI founder Imran Khan attacked military installations and monuments after the PTI supremo was arrested.
The army spokesperson added that the day was “not just the Pak Army’s case but the entire country’s”.
He maintained that in any country, if an attack is launched on its armed forces, on the founder’s house or the monuments and symbols of martyrs, hatred is created between the forces and the people.
“And if the people behind it are not brought to justice, then there is a question mark on that country’s justice system.”
“We believe that if we have to maintain trust in the justice system of Pakistan, then the May 9 perpetrators, the doers and those commanding them, must be sentenced according to the Constitution and the law.”
“Nothing is hidden about May 9,” said the military spokesperson and added that everyone saw the events unfold.
“We all saw how everyone was [turned] against the army, its leadership, agencies, institutions through lies and propaganda,” said Maj Gen Sharif and said that “certain political leaders” issued orders on the day to target military installations.
He elaborated that after the events of May 9, another fake narrative was peddled that the events of the day were a ‘false flag operation’.
The military spokesperson also gave various examples of major riots worldwide and the subsequent action taken by the respective government.
Referring to PTI’s demand for a judicial commission to ascertain the facts of the May 9 riots, he said: “Fine, we are ready, make a judicial commission but if you have to, then go to the root of this entire incident.”
“The judicial commission should also determine what the goals of the 2014 dharna were and how the Parliament was attacked. It should also look into the PTV attack and how people were encouraged to stand against the state, indulge in civil disobedience, and burn utility bills.“
Maj Gen Sharif added that such a commission should also then investigate how “Islamabad was attacked in 2016 with KP’s federal resources, and then again in 2022.”
Elaborating further, he stated that the judicial commission should also probe the source of funding for such campaigns as well as those campaigns on social media which specifically target state institutions.
He warned that if a “specific political clique” continues down such a path with impunity, “then one day it will go against its own army”.
The ISPR DG added that in the end, the “real proud public of Pakistan” distanced itself from the events of May 9.
Terrorism and Afghanistan
The plan to kill the Chinese engineers was hatched in Afghanistan, said Maj-Gen Sharif at the start of the press conference.
The army spokesperson said that during the war on terror, Pakistan lost a large number of its soldiers and law enforcement personnel. “Everyone knows that Pakistan tried its best for peace in region and especially in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s role has been the most vital for peace in the region.”
He maintained that Pakistan has hosted a large number of Afghan refugees and has helped them more than any other country in the world.
The military spokesperson said that despite efforts by Islamabad and providing the relevant information to Afghan authorities, TTP terrorists have “continuously committed acts of terrorism in Pakistan”.
He added that till now, no positive progress can be seen and maintained that recent acts of terror in Pakistan can be traced to terror hideouts in Afghanistan.
“But there is concrete evidence that TTP terrorists are still using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan,” said Maj Gen Sharif and added that the Foreign Office (FO) has registered 12 protests with the interim Afghan authorities and the army chief has also taken a clear stance on the issue.
“Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to eradicate terror networks and provide protection to its citizens at all costs.”
He maintained that the armed forces of Pakistan would go to every extent to “suppress the terrorists and their patrons and enablers”.
The DG ISPR said that terrorists have been “busy in attempting to worsen” the security situation in K-P and Balochistan and recalled the January attack on Mach FC camp which was thwarted by security forces.
He also recalled other attacks and said in response to the major attacks, Pakistan carried out strikes across the Pak-Afghan border and targeted the safe havens of terrorists.
Elaborating further, he said that so far in 2024, security forces have carried out 13,135 IBOs across Pakistan during which “249 terrorists were sent to hell while 396 were arrested”.
“The Pak Army, police, intelligence agencies and other LEAs are carrying out more than 100 operations on a daily basis against terrorism.”
Repatriation of illegal Afghans
Touching upon the matter of Afghan illegals living in the country, the military spokesperson said the government took the decision to repatriate illegals living in Pakistan in the “larger interest of the country”.
He said no country in the world allows illegal immigrants to roam freely, and in Pakistan, such individuals were adding a burden on the country’s economy and also causing a deterioration in the law and order situation.
Maj Gen Sharif said that so far, 563,639 illegal Afghan citizens have been repatriated to their country.
