The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in Rawalpindi declared on Wednesday that May 9 will be remembered as a “black chapter,” referring to the protests “targeting army property and installations” that happened in the wake of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest the previous day.
The military’s press office issued a statement today in which it stated, “We will not permit anyone to take the law into their hands.” Imran Khan was taken into custody from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) “in accordance with the NAB statement and law,” it was stated. “Immediately following this arrest, assaults on army properties and installations took place, and anti-army chants were raised.”
The ISPR said that on the one hand, “these miscreants evoke the nation’s emotions for achieving their limited and selfish objectives and on the other hand, they deceive people, continuing to highlight the army’s importance”. “This is an example of hypocrisy,” it stated.
The military’s media wing said that “this group wearing a political cloak” has done what enemies could not do in 75 years, all “in the lust for power”.
“The army showed patience and restraint and exercised extreme tolerance, not even caring about its reputation, in the larger interest of the country,” it said.
“With this situation created under nefarious planning, a heinous attempt was made to make the army give an immediate reaction, which could be used for nefarious political purposes.
“The Army’s mature response thwarted this conspiracy. We are well aware that behind it were orders, directives and complete pre-planning by some sinister party leadership,” the statement added.
The ISPR said that the facilitators, planners and political activists involved in the protests had been identified, asserting that strict action would be taken against them “as per the law and all these evil elements will now be responsible for the consequences”.
“Any further attack on the army, including all law enforcement agencies, military and state installations and properties will be severely retaliated, the responsibility of which will be on this very group that wants to push Pakistan into a civil war and has expressed it multiple times.
“No one can be allowed to incite people and take the law into their hands,” the army’s media wing added.
The ISPR statement comes a day after the PTI chief was whisked away by paramilitary forces from the premises of the IHC in a case pertaining to the Al-Qadir Trust. He has now been handed over to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for eight days.
Following Imran’s arrest, massive protests broke out across the country, with a number of demonstrators gathering outside military cantonments, General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi, and offices of the Frontier Crops. A number of anti-military hashtags also started trending on social media.
