May 9 rioters will face justice: COAS

Gen Asim tells rank and file ‘orchestrated’ May 9 vandalism will never recur

ISLAMABAD:

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir reassured the rank and file of the military on Wednesday that all those responsible for bringing shame to the nation on the black day of May 9 would be brought to justice.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Syed Asim visited the Sialkot Garrison. He laid floral wreath at the Martyrs' Monument and paid rich tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the pride, honour and dignity of the nation.

During his interaction with officers and troops, Gen Asim stressed upon maintaining focus on army’s professionalism and preparedness to deal with complex internal and external security challenges, including propaganda warfare.

He appreciated their hard work, devotion, high morale and professionalism.

“No one will be allowed to disrespect our Shuhada [martyrs] and their monuments. They are a source of inspiration and pride for the rank and file of the armed forces, law-enforcement agencies, government officials and the people of Pakistan," he said.

“The martyrs have been promised the highest abode in the life hereafter and shall continue to maintain the highest levels of respect amongst the people of Pakistan,” the army chief added.

“The state of Pakistan and the armed forces will always hold all the Shuhada and their families in very high esteem and continue to honour them and their supreme sacrifices with utmost respect and dignity."

He underscored that the recent “planned and orchestrated tragic incidents” would never be allowed again at any cost. He assured the rank and file that all those responsible for “bringing shame to the nation on the black day of May 9 will certainly be brought to justice”.

On May 9, in an unprecedented show of vandalism, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters attacked and caused damage government building, including the military installations hours after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan.

On Monday, while chairing a Special Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Gen Asim had warned that restraint would no longer be exercised in case of any attacks on any military installations.

According to the ISPR, the forum took comprehensive stock of the law and order situation in the past few days and received a briefing about the prevailing internal and external security environment.

The forum was informed that a well-coordinated arson plan, involving desecration of Shuhada pictures, monuments, burning down of historical buildings and vandalism of military installations was executed to malign the institution and provoke it towards giving an impulsive reaction, the ISPR said.

“Based on the irrefutable evidence collected so far, Armed Forces are well aware of the planners, instigators, abettors and perpetrators of these attacks and attempts to create distortions in this regard are absolutely futile,” it added.

The meeting resolved that those involved in the attacks on the military installations and personal would be brought to justice through trials under the relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.

According to the ISPR statement, the forum also resolved that “restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances”.

The participants paid rich tribute to the Shuhada, who laid down their lives in defence of the motherland while fighting the menace of terrorism. The forum acknowledged the successful counter-terrorism and intelligence-based operations in the country.