[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The top military command decided on Monday that those involved in the May 9 vandalism will face charges under the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act for ransacking military sites in the aftermath of PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest.
In an unprecedented act of vandalism last week, PTI supporters allegedly attacked and damaged the historic Corps’ Commander’s House — originally known as Jinnah House and once serving as the residence of the nation’s founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah — hours after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested PTI chief Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on Tuesday.
Protesters burned down all of the rooms, halls, drawing rooms, living rooms, walls, drapes, doors, wooden ceilings and even the floor in the ancient building, according to photos and videos.
A few furlongs distant from the Corps’ Commander House, the 130-year-old Military Engineering Services building was also set on fire, destroying precious records, furniture and vehicles.
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General Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), presided over a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) meeting at GHQ in Rawalpindi to assess the situation resulting from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s violent protests against the detention of its chairman, Imran Khan.
The meeting took place ahead of the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Tuesday, which will decide how to proceed against the former prime minister and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in inciting their supporters to ransack the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander, attack the GHQ, and other military installations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in an unusually lengthy statement that the forum took a full stock of the law and order scenario in the last few days that was created to achieve entrenched political aims.
The forum was informed that a well-coordinated arson scheme involving the degradation of martyrs’ images and monuments, the burning down of historical buildings, and the vandalism of military sites had been carried out in order to defame the institution and drive it into an impetuous reaction.
The conference strongly denounced these politically motivated and sponsored acts against military sites and public and private property.
According to the ISPR, the commanders also conveyed the rank and file of the army’s sadness and thoughts regarding these tragic and unacceptable acts.
“Based on irrefutable evidence collected thus 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,” the military’s media wing stated.
The forum stated unequivocally that those responsible for these horrific acts against military sites, soldiers, and equipment will face justice through prosecutions under Pakistani laws such as the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act.
The forum decided that culprits, spoilers, and violators who damage military sites and setups will no longer be restrained under any circumstances.
The conference also expressed worry about externally funded and internally facilitated, orchestrated propaganda warfare unleashed against army leadership, with the goal of creating schisms between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan, as well as inside the ranks and ranks of the armed forces
“The vicious propaganda of such hostile forces will be defeated with the support of the people of Pakistan, who have always stood by the armed forces in the face of adversity,” the statement continued.
The forum emphasised the importance of stringent enforcement of relevant legislation to discipline violators of social media norms and regulations. It stressed the importance of national consensus among all stakeholders in addressing ongoing political instability as a priority in order to restore public trust, revitalise economic activity, and enhance the democratic process.
The forum also agreed to support all efforts to attain this critical consensus. “Forum resolved that Pakistan Army, with the full support of the people of Pakistan, will defeat all nefarious designs of Pakistan’s enemies, Insha Allah,” the statement continued.
According to ISPR, the participants paid rich respect to the martyrs who gave their life in defence of the country while combating the terrorism threat.
The forum highlighted the country’s security services’ successful counter-terrorism and intelligence-based operations, particularly the military’ gallant response to the Muslim Bagh attack, and paid rich respect to the supreme sacrifices made by the brave sons of the nation. The forum was thoroughly briefed on the current internal and external security situation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
