Violent Protesters, Abettors To Face Trial Under Army Act

Monitoring Desk — Pakistan Army’s top brass has decided to take the 9th May protesters and their abettors to task under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters attacked and destroyed military installations on May 9 after Imran Khan’s arrest. The federal government and the army dubbed it “Black Day” in the history of Pakistan.

According to an ISPR statement, the crucial decision came during a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir in the chair.

On May 9, the violent protests were triggered as soon as PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested by Islamabad High Court (IHC) and sent to jail in the Al-Qadir Trust case. However, Imran Khan said his workers did not instigate violence and distanced the PTI from them.

The CCC vowed that those involved in heinous crimes against the military installations and personal/ equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act, the ISPR statement mentioned.

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The military’s leadership also decided that no concession will be given to the perpetrators, spoilers, and violators who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances.

Quoting the commanders, the ISPR said that based on the sold evidence, the armed forces identify the planners, instigators, abettors, and perpetrators behind these attacks.

On this occasion, a briefing was given to the forum. The military’s highest forum was informed that behind a well-coordinated arson plan — involving the desecration of Shuhada pictures, and monuments, burning down of historical buildings, and vandalism of military installations — the objective was to malign the institution and provoke it for giving an impulsive reaction.

The CCC condemned the politically motivated and instigated incidents against military installations and public and private properties in the strongest possible sense.

According to ISPR, the forum also communicated the anguish and sentiments of the rank and file of the army on these unfortunate and unacceptable incidents, the statement said.