- Says this group (PTI) done what enemy of country couldn’t do for 75 years
- Says Army showing extreme patience, restraint in wider interest of country
RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday termed May 9 a dark day in national history in the wake of violent incidents that took place against the Pakistan Army after the arrest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman who was taken into legal custody on Tuesday (from the Islamabad High Court by Rangers).
According to an ISPR news release, immediately after the PTI chief’s arrest, there were organized attacks on army installations and anti-army slogans were raised.
In the strongly-worded statement, the military’s media wing emphasised that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. The arrest of Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court was justified by the ISPR, citing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) statement and the law.
It said that evil elements (PTI workers mobs) vigorously stirred up public sentiments to fulfill their limited and selfish goals, and on the other, they did not get tired of highlighting the importance of the army for the country while throwing dust in the eyes of the people which was an example of their dual standards.
The ISPR statement criticised the protesters, describing their actions as an attempt to manipulate the nation’s sentiments for their own limited and selfish objectives. The military media wing further accused them of deceiving the people by simultaneously highlighting the importance of the army.
“This is an example of hypocrisy,” the ISPR stated, denouncing the contradicting stance taken by those involved in the protests. It emphasised the significance of maintaining law and order, highlighting the need to respect the institutions of the country.
“One group wearing a political cloak, driven by its lust for power, has accomplished what the eternal enemies of the country could not do in 75 years,” the ISPR said.
The ISPR said the army showed extreme patience, tolerance and restraint and without caring about its own reputation acted with extreme patience and tolerance in the wider interest of the country.
“Army should have given its immediate response which could have been used for its (PTI) nefarious political purposes – Army’s mature response thwarted this conspiracy – We are well aware that behind this are the orders, and directives of some evil leadership of the party. There was and is complete pre-planning,” it said.
The facilitators, planners and political activists involved in those operations had been identified and strict action would be taken against them as per the law and all these evil elements would now be responsible for the consequences, the military’s media wing said.
The ISPR warned that any further attack on the army, including all law enforcement agencies, military and state installations and properties would be severely retaliated against by the very group that wanted to push Pakistan into a civil war and had repeatedly attacked them.
“It has also been expressed,” it said. “No one can be allowed to incite people and take the law into their hands.”
