By Amjad Mehmood
RAWALPINDI—The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday termed May 9 as a “black chapter” mentioning the protests from hostile workers of a political party targeting to Pakistan Army’s properties and installations which were triggered after PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest a day earlier from Islamabad High Court.
“We will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands,” says the press statement issued by the ISPR. The statement includes that Imran Khan was arrested “in line with the NAB statement and law” and immediately after hisarrest, the attacks were executed onthe army’s properties and installations. The protestors were also chanting anti-army slogans.
According to the ISPR, these scoundrels try to deceive the people by emphasizing the importance of the Pakistan Army while in parallel, they evoke the emotions of the common man to achieve their selfish objectives. “This is a classic example of hypocrisy,” it was stated in media statement. ISPR further stated that by wearing a political cloak, this group has done what Pakistan’s enemies could not dare in 75 years just in the lust for power.
The army demonstrated patience and restraint, as well as extreme tolerance, in the larger interest of the country, it was stated. A horrible attempt was made to force the army to deliver an early response so that it could be used for malicious political purposes with the help of this scenario that was manufactured under duplicitous design.This scheme was foiled by the Army’s responsible response. “We are quite aware that some evil party leadership was responsible for it through instructions, directions, and extensive planning”, the statement continued.
According to the ISPR, the organizers, planners, and political activists involved in the protests had been identified and they would face heavy punishment as per the law. All such elements will now be responsible for the consequences, the ISPR added. Any more attacks on the army, including those on all law enforcement agencies, military sites, and state properties, will be harshly punished upon, with blame falling squarely on the group that has repeatedly stated its desire to plunge Pakistan into civil war. “No one can be permitted to provoke people and let them take the law into their hands.”
ISPR released this statement a day after when PTI Chairman Imran Khan was detained by the paramilitary troops from Islamabad High Court’s biometric office in connection with a case involving the Al-Qadir Trust on Tuesday. The court granted eight days’ remand of Imran Khan against a plea of 14 days from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Numerous protests continued in cantonment areas, General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi, and Frontier Crops offices after Imran’s detention, sparking widespread unrest across the country. The suspension of internet services and social media by the government provided some ease however, the number of anti-military hashtags gained momentum on social media.