Planners, abettors, and executors of May 9 vandalism to be brought to justice: COAS

Army chief General Syed Asim Munir has said that “all the planners, abetters, instigators and executors of vandalism” on May 9 will be brought to justice.

“The armed forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and security of its installations or vandalism,” he said while addressing the officers during a visit to the Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Saturday.

The army chief emphasised on the evolving threats to national security. “We shall continue with our endeavors of peace and stability and there will be no room for spoilers of the process,” he said in his address days after rioters ran amok in different cities of the country, vandalising installations of security forces.

The army chief was given a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. He appreciated the professional competence, performance and achievements of the law enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against terrorism.

Also read: PM wants rioters involved in May 9 violence arrested in 72 hours

Gen Asim also sensitised about challenges of information warfare and efforts to create misperceptions. He highlighted that a concerted effort is being made maliciously by inimical elements to target the armed forces. He pledged that such nefarious attempts will be foiled through the support of people of Pakistan.

Earlier on arrival, the COAS was received by the corps commander Peshawar.

In an unprecedented show of vandalism, PTI supporters had attacked and caused damage to the historic Corps' Commander’s House — originally known as Jinnah House and which once served as the residence of the founding father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — and other military installations including attacking the GHQ building in Rawalpindi hours after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on May 9.

Also read: Imran gets blanket IHC bail relief

The ousted prime minister was arrested from inside the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier that day, triggering protests in many cities of the country by party activists and supporters as they clashed with the law enforcement agencies.

An FIR was later registered against leaders and activists of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for attacking and damaging the state properties and installations.